If you’re a mom obsessed with your kid’s report cards…halt! Friendships might be a more important focus. New research shows that positive social relationships have a much bigger hand in turning kids into well-adjusted adults than academic achievement.

If you didn’t have meaty enough connections as a child, we have good news for you: It’s never too late to seek out the kinds of relationships you’re looking for. If making connections is tough, there are many resources you can try to help you make changes—like therapy, which can help you understand yourself better and work toward a more emotionally satisfying life.