Tonight was your first ever cardboard challenge. You asked me to sign up for the club,a nd you conceptualized the idea yourself. Daddy did his best to help you construct your design. You used your snap circuits to help wire up a motor and your build a train that could move with a switch.
When the judges came by you were nervous and stammered. It was so cute because you are usually one confident little guy. As we encouraged you from behind, you gained confidence and slowly started to tell them about your creation. I knew when the judge told you to submit again next year that you weren't a contender, but I was soooo proud of you for being one of the youngest kids at the school who was inspired to want to participate. You're an engineer. You always have been. This was the perfect event for you.
Your dad saw the list of contenders after the judging was over and knew you weren't on it, but we went to the ceremony anyway. You were tired but you waited with anticipation and was just so sure you were going to be hailed the winner.
As the names were read and the kids who won cheered, you started to slump your shoulders down. At the end of the ceremony, your shoulders were completely hunched over, your eyes were red, and if I looked close, there were tears. You were devastated you had failed. I hugged you and assured you how proud I was of you. Your dad did too later at home. To be the best at anything, you have to fail. You have to earn anything you do in this life. You have to be willing to take rejection and then stand up to it and try again. Though my heart broke for you and your tears and tiny hunched over shoulders, everyone wins is not real life. It's better to learn it early.
Later that night we were at home and it was time to work on your boat for the Boy Scout Regatta. Seemingly recovered you randomly offered,
"I knew I was going to win mom. I don't know enough yet and you have to earn it."
Here I had felt so bad for you and desperately wanted to explain to you that this is life, but the experience had already taught you that. Jace you are brilliant. You are. I am your biggest fan. I believe in your 1000 percent. Fail forward Jace. Take those failures and disappointments in life and use them to learn from and then try again and move forward.
You are destined to be a leader. A good leader. A kind leader. A fair leader.
Fail forward. Always keep learning. Never assume you know it all. Experience everything you can that this life has to offer.
Love,
Mommy
