Summary

In the first section of this chapter, Duckworth examines what parents can do to help their children develop grit. Some parents believe that grit is developed from adversity, while others believe it comes from nurturing. Although the author does not say she has all the answers, she is willing to delve into the question to come up with some findings, especially because she is the mother of two girls. She researched at the story of Steve Young, a famous quarterback in the NFL, and discovered that his parents (his, father, by the way, was nicknamed "Grit") were both demanding and supportive. She also studied the life story of Francesca Martinez, a British comic who was born with cerebral palsy. Her parents never gave her the message that her disease limited her options.

Next, Duckworth looks at different parenting styles...