Navigating parenthood is an intricate journey, often without a clear roadmap. One of the most challenging lessons any parent will ever teach their child is that not everyone will like them, no matter how kind or well-behaved they are. Award-winning photographer and digital content creator Tatiana Karanja, popularly known as Mama Olive, recently opened up about this emotional realization.
Sharing a heartfelt moment with her seven-year-old daughter, Olive, Mama Olive described how she was taken aback when her child admitted that she sometimes pretends to be someone else just to be liked at school. The confession was both shocking and relatable, highlighting the universal struggle of people pleasing a battle many adults are still fighting.
Reflecting on the conversation, Mama Olive acknowledged how crucial it is to teach children that their self-worth is not tied to how many people like them. “Not everyone will like you, and that’s OK. In fact, if everyone likes you, you’re probably not being your true self,” she shared.
This powerful realization underscores a fundamental aspect of growing up: understanding that friendships and relationships are based on compatibility rather than universal approval. “Different values, interests, characters, or simply a vibe that doesn’t click—it’s rarely personal,” she added.
By embracing this lesson early, children can grow into confident, self-assured individuals who attract genuine connections rather than altering their identities to fit in. Mama Olive wants her children to walk through life knowing they are enough, loved, and valued just as they are.
Yet, as she admitted, teaching this lesson is difficult especially when parents are still learning it themselves. “I want them to be resilient, strong, and unapologetically authentic rather than constantly shapeshifting to please others,” she wrote.
Parenting comes with no manual, but instilling confidence and self-acceptance in children may be one of the most valuable gifts a parent can offer. As Mama Olive posed to her followers: How are you helping your little ones build the confidence to just be themselves?
