I think the best parenting advice I have ever been given: "Lower Your Expectations". Obviously, we want our kids to be rock stars of epic proportions in every way possible, and we think that pushing them harder, fast, better, stronger, is the answer, but it creates tension and discontent in our relationship with our kids. Lowering expectations does not mean accepting failure, and it doesn't mean accepting a child that doesn't try to do their best, but that's just it isn't it, it's their best, not yours.