I recently watched tlearn from our failures, children, self esteemhe movie High Strung on Netflix. It’s a fun movie that can be watched by all. The story revolves around Ruby, a new student at a performing arts school in Manhattan. As hard as Ruby tries please one of her demanding dance instructors, she can’t. Her classical dance instructor sees her frustration and talks to her about it. He tells her, “It’s imperfections that keep us alive.”

I loved his advice to her! Instead of telling her that if she keeps trying really hard, things will get better, he makes her realize that she can learn from her imperfections and move forward.

Nobody wants to face failure or admit that that they have flaws. Some flaws make us feel like that pimple on our face that you are sure sticks out a mile and has a flashing sign on it that says, “I have a zit!” GASP!

Babe Ruth, a professional baseball player, played baseball professionally for twenty-two years. During his career he struck out 1,330 times, but hit 714 home runs. He is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Not only was he known as the home run king, but he was also known as the strike out king. Every time he was up to bat, he used it as an opportunity to hit a home run.

A newspaper reporter once asked him if he knew that he was also called the strikeout king, and what he attributed it to. Babe Ruth’s reply was simple, “I’m not afraid to swing at the ball.” Meaning he never gave up, but kept trying no matter how many times he failed.

            “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

                                                            – Babe Ruth

            This is the same kind of attitude we need to instill in our children. Children need to know that yes, they will fail at things, not always be the winner and not always be picked for the team. It is part of life, but a growing part too and one that can make us stronger. Teach your children that we all have flaws and that it is part of life. BUT, it’s what we do to overcome them that gives us strength, endurance, and future success.

Can you think of a time in our own life where you failed at something? What happened and how did you overcome it? What did you learn from it?

Share your failures or “imperfections” with your children. Tell them how it made you feel at the time. Tell them what you did to overcome it. By sharing this with your children, they will see that you overcame it and that life didn’t end for you. What better example could they have…