Let them try

My daughter has tried a million sports and activities growing up. Even if I couldn't afford it or I knew she might fail, I wanted her to experience the journey. I firmly believe in the power of failure even when it is so hard to watch our children try and fail. What they learn from the experience is critical in developing character.

Trying different things growing up is similar to our careers. Not everyone locks into the one thing they want to do forever right out of the gates. Many need to try, fail, and succeed to find where they bring value and find happiness.

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to play a sport (that's a conversation for another day). Maybe that is what drove me to encourage my children to always try anything they're interested in.

Conversations with my daughter have gone like this:

Mom, can I-

As a child:

- be a princess ballerina? Yes! (She hated it)

- be a horseback rider? Yes! (she was incredible and competed but gave it up after 10 years)

- play soccer? Yes! (she hated it)

- be an artist? Yes! (her paintings won awards, but now she doesn't want to paint)

As a tween:

- be a big animal vet? Yes! (met some penguins and decided maybe not)

- be a cheerleader? Yes! (she was not a fan)

- be an actress? Yes! (she appeared in commercials and in plays but doesn't do it now)

- be a singer? Yes! (I love the recordings I kept of her - but she doesn't sing much now)

As a teenager in HS:

- try out for basketball, though she never played? Yes! (SUCCESS)

- try out for field hockey, though she never played? Yes! (FAIL)

- try out for Lacrosse, though she never played before? Yes! (SUCCESS)

- try out for Lacrosse the next year? Yes! (FAIL)

- be an attorney? Yes (she's changed her mind now)

- be an interior designer? Yes (still unsure)

As she continues to grow into an adult I fully expect this list to double and triple in size. Or, at least I hope it will!

Life is about success and failure and the journey of achieving both is what truly matters. If we never allow ourselves to fail, we will never truly succeed. Reframing the conversation around failure with our kids is what teaches them empowerment. They can fail and be confident they have a safe support system that will help them get back up and try again.

I am teaching her she can do ANYTHING she wants if she just puts in the effort and just tries- succeeding or failing is really irrelevant to me. I want her to learn to overcome objections, use her voice, stand up for what she believes in, and find her passion.

She is our future and she will succeed because she isn't afraid to fail.