"I make so many mistakes, it's embarrassing!!..."

I hear that from students often, and it makes me so sad. Why? Because making mistakes is a normal part of learning.

I'd like you to imagine watching a toddler learning how to walk. First, they pull themselves up on furniture and take steps while holding on. Then they venture out on to the floor, take a step or two and fall on their little diaper butts. Maybe they cry. But they keep it up until they can do it.

Then, it's only a matter of time before they stop thinking about it and just do it. And run, jump and skip.

If you're the one watching them do it, the last thing you would ever think or say is something like, "Oh jeez, you fell AGAIN?!?! What's wrong with you?!?!?" Not in a million years. You're more likely to put on the high-pitched voice reserved for communication with small beings and cheer them on. Witnessing a little kid learning how to walk is exciting. As we cheer them on, we often feel a sense of awe and delight as they stumble and fall on their way to being able to do it. We know they will eventually and when they do, it's cause for much celebration.

What if you could use that kind of attitude and energy for yourself while learning something new? Train wrecks and all. What if every time we made a mistake while learning something new, we were able to see ourselves the way we see that little kid, falling on their diaper butt and pulling themselves back up to try again on their way to being able to do it?

Really, if we said to our friends the things we say to ourselves, we wouldn't have any friends.

For me as a teacher, witnessing my students navigate their learning curve just rocks my world. It feels quite similar to how it feels watching a little cutie patootie learn to walk. It's exciting for me because I know from decades of experience that eventually, they'll get it and eventually will feel comfortable and fun.

Below is a video of my grand-niece walking for the first time, and causing some delightful mayhem with her big brothers. Notice her delight as she walks, falls, walks, then falls again. Let her be your role model.

Enjoy! Janet

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/ac7ab2_1138b1c0c6c74ce5934fb48f0478030a/720p/mp4/file.mp4