I remember when . . . I was young.
I would love to try something, anything that was new to me. I would observe others doing tasks and accomplishing and I knew I wanted that for myself. – I wanted to succeed, be and do.
It wasn’t always easy. I didn’t always do it right the first time, or even the second. I was told things like . . .‘It’s all in the way you hold your nose’ and ‘If at first you don’t succeed . . .’ and ‘practice makes perfect’. By trying and trying again, I learned patience and determination. By figuring things out, learning and growing, my self confidence grew. By creating, building and producing, I became proud and capable.
It seemed easy for others to try to take over, help by example or worst of all redo all that I had done. My abilities would be in question. My accomplishments would be taken away from me. All the patience, determination and pride would disappear and I would be less likely to try, try again. If I was told I wasn’t good enough, I heard it. If I was told I couldn’t, I believed it. If someone said, ‘let me do it.’ I would.
I loved to help for as long as I believed that I could.
As a parent, I know that it is important for my children to do it their way. To work their way through it and find the best way for them. To be proud of their accomplishments. To know that they can. To find their capabilities. To know their independence.
Sometimes it’s hard to have the patience to let them do it on their own. I want to offer advice, show them my way, help them, correct them or do it faster and better they can. But I know it’s better, for both of us, to let them find their way, build their confidence, watch them strive and achieve.
They may not do everything my way. They might not always be fast. Or precise. Or a perfectionist. Or do it right all the time. -- But, neither do I.
My way isn’t always the best way – but I will always do my very best to let them do it their way. – Because I know and I want them to know that they can.
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