My oldest tends to be skittish about failing. Yes, the OCD perfectionist gene has passed to the next generation. What does this mean for an upcoming 10 year old? There is a lot to be nervous about. There is a lot that has never been tried and therefore cannot be guaranteed to succeed in the first try.
For my daughter specifically, it means total meltdown at home when the prospect of a challenge looms. She's ranted about challenging homework for over 30 minutes. She's cried at the prospect of swimming lessons. She bites her nails at new situations.
I was therefore surprised that when my father asked if she wanted to run a mile race that she said yes. Her younger brother eagerly wanted in and that may be why. If there is anything to spur her on, it's the prospect of her barely younger brother-who will pass her by in height one day-doing what she cannot.
I was excited. We decided on a route to train with. I would bike with my youngest: 1. to teach him how to ride a bike 2. to keep up with my kids (because I'm an overweight, out-of-shape mom).
And so the meltdowns began. There was every excuse on the books and she walked almost every practice. Finally, in frustration, I put on running shoes and said if she couldn't keep up with fat, out-of-shape mommy, she should be ashamed.
My husband would squelch every meltdown with a brief reminder of her past successes and then loudly proclaim, "I CAN DO HARD THINGS!" and make her repeat it.
Race day came. My husband and I had tried to be encouraging and the mantra was repeated frequently. What finally gave my daughter the incentive she needed? Grandpa stopped by and offered $100 reward for being 1st in their age division before we could warn him that her brother had a very real chance of achieving it. Her eyes lit up.
So, my oldest who never made a better time than 14 minutes in training came in at 10 minutes and 48 seconds; 4th in her age division. My husband missed her at the finish line because he hadn't expected her so soon. I'm framing the photo of her crossing the finish line as an additional, daily reminder that she can do hard things.
As Nelson Mandela has said, "It's only impossible until it's done."
and 13th place in overall rankings at 8 minutes and 8 seconds; 1 minute and 3 seconds under the top boy in the race and 26 seconds away from having Grandpa pay out.
