One of the hardest things as a parent is watching your child fail.
Last night, after a grueling final round of basketball tryouts, Caden didn't make the team. For a kid who LOVES the game (if you've ever watched him play then you know what I mean), it was a crushing blow. The pang of his disappointment made my own heart hurt. There I was, hugging him, holding his body -- drenched in sweat and hot tears -- telling him how proud I was of him (17 kids made it to the final round, out of more than 40 in the beginning of tryouts, he being the smallest and the only Asian kid -- clearly the odd man out but so brave for taking a risk and putting himself out there).
Afterwards, he decided to drown his sorrows at McDonald's (Big Mac, 6-piece chicken nuggets, fries, a big-ass Dr. Pepper and an Oreo McFlurry!). He finished almost everything on his tray, came home and took a hot shower and slept like a rock.
He woke up this morning in a good mood, ready to seize the day. THIS KID IS MY HERO. Yes, as a parent it's heartbreaking to watch your child work so hard and not accomplish what they set out to do. At the same time, it's an opportunity to build character, resilience and perseverance. I admire the strength of Caden's heart.
After all, it's not about how hard you fall, but how fast you get back up.
Why you need to let your child fail. (The Atlantic)
