Being a child star in the ‘80s, RR Herrera, now 45, had to grow up faster than most kids his age. Surrounded by adults and taking on roles that exposed him to real-life situations, he learned early on how to carry himself with maturity over the years.

Those early experiences shaped more than his acting skills; they taught life lessons he now passes on to his two children. “My kids aren’t exposed to things I had the privilege of seeing or doing,” he says, reflecting on how different the world is today. Despite the differences, RR, now a host, life coach, and chief strategy officer of learning and development company Trainstation, believes that some values remain constant—resilience, grit, and compassion.

For this father of two, parenting isn’t just about helping children get good grades. It’s about shaping a mindset that embraces challenges, learns from failure, and keeps growing. “Grades are important, but success is more than that,” he says. It’s a lesson passed down from his parents, who prioritized emotional intelligence and hard work. These are values he now instills in his kids through stories, sports, and everyday experiences. This mindset, hopefully, will help them navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Stepping outside one’s bubble is important for RR. “Kids nowadays can isolate themselves with gadgets and only engage with people they like,” he observes. To counter this, he encourages his children to meet different kinds of people and listen to their stories. This helps build empathy and a broader understanding of the world, which are essential to being resilient. “My son once told his yaya (nanny), ‘I’m so lucky, yaya,’ after learning that she pumps out water from the ground. That awareness moves them.”

RR’s son’s journey in karate has proven that hard work wins—arriving early for training, asking for extra practice, and handling losses with determination. “There are many talented people who don’t succeed because they lack drive,” he says. Instead of sheltering his children from failure, he encourages them to see it as an opportunity for growth. “It’s okay to commit mistakes, because it means you are trying something new. Just make sure they’re new mistakes.”

Their family talks openly about feelings, whether it’s fear, sadness, or frustration, and teaches that all emotions are valid. They use affirmations carefully, acknowledging emotions as signals rather than pushing for toxic positivity. This emotional honesty helps the kids find their own courage and motivation. “Pain from losing a match motivated my son to train harder. Fear made my daughter a better communicator.”

As a parent, RR admits he’s still learning how to bounce back from mistakes. “My kids are mirrors. I adjust because I see myself in them.” When he feels stressed or upset, he practices what he calls SBNRR: stop, breathe, notice, reflect, and respond. This intentional pause models calm problem-solving for his children. “It’s about progress, not perfection.”

Cliché as the saying “It takes a village to raise a child” sounds, he encourages surrounding kids with role models, exposing them to stories of resilience like movies about overcoming odds, and letting them face real challenges. Sports, performing arts, or any activity where they can experience winning and losing are also great ways to learn resilience. “Pressure is necessary for diamonds.”

Teaching resilience needs to be consistent. It’s about embracing failure, nurturing empathy, and practicing grit every day. “We won’t always be there to catch them,” RR says, “but we can help them get back up stronger each time.” Because, more often than not, the most powerful parenting isn’t in protecting but in preparing.