My child is only 8, so I’m no expert, but honestly, while you can think analytically about what elements of your upbringing may have contributed to your anxiety and not replicate them, I think you also need to beware of putting pressure on your child to have qualities you would have liked to have yourself. I mean, I think requiring a child to be ‘confident and content’ is quite a big ask.
The things I’m sure about having done with DS are things like letting him see me try new things, get out of my comfort zone and fail, and be ok with that, modelling good friendships and relationships and confident behaviour and a work ethic, and also letting him know I have his back in all things, and that he’s able for whatever daily challenges life throws up.
We had a challenging year, as we moved countries and he moved school systems, and due to housing issues and COVID moved several times, but I’m hoping he’s absorbed that change and uncertainty can be dealt with and even enjoyed.
I’m very aware of how much work I needed to do when I was younger to overcome the example of my parents, who are lovely, but also timid, withdrawn, socially-awkward people who were never able to present life as something they could cope with.