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The Headstand Lesson

This is a personal story of how my husband and I helped our son overcome discouragement and encouraged him to break the barriers in his mind.

As a mother of two boys, aged 6 and 12, my husband and I have always sought ways to help them build self-confidence and resilience. This particular incident is just one of many situations we've encountered on our parenting journey.

One day, my older son came home from school feeling down. They had a gymnastics assessment coming up, and one of the requirements was performing a headstand. He had been observing his classmates effortlessly doing headstands during gym class, but he just couldn't get the hang of it. As I listened to him, I saw the disappointment in his eyes. I knew this was an opportunity to show him that many things in life require effort and time to succeed, and that it's acceptable, if not necessary, to go through a challenging period of trial and error to learn and grow.

We approached this challenge as systematically as possible. My husband and I aren't particularly athletic, neither of us could do a headstand in school, and we didn't have a gym or a suitable space for such activities at home. We had to get creative. We started by finding YouTube video tutorials on how to begin and prepare the body for a headstand.

Once we went through the theory, my husband took our son outside to the backyard to practice the push-off. At first, he was hesitant and embarrassed, and his body language showed signs of giving up on the task. However, we didn't give up on him. We encouraged him, reminding him that all these awkward attempts were steps towards progress. Our younger son joined in as well, mimicking his older brother's attempts and providing additional support, considering the pressure of the impending assessment. Together, we cheered him on, provided constructive feedback, and celebrated every bit of progress he made.

Every day, he did push-ups to strengthen his arms and core muscles. We experimented with different techniques, adjusted his posture, and worked on his breathing. As he witnessed his own progress, he started practicing multiple times a day and gradually became more confident. We found a suitable spot near the door inside the house where he could practice without risking injury if he accidentally tipped over. Slowly but surely, he made steady progress, becoming stronger in his arms and more self-assured.

And after days of practice, he did it! The moment was exhilarating for everyone in the house. He was thrilled and proud of himself. The smile on his face was priceless. Through this experience, my son learned that he can succeed even in seemingly impossible tasks when he approaches them with a plan and puts in the effort. Our younger son also learned the same lesson, along with the values of solidarity and mutual support.

My husband and I understand the importance of supporting our children through their challenges and helping them develop a growth mindset. We emphasize that most achievements require effort and perseverance. As our parents and their parents before them often said, "Nothing comes out of nothing."

Parenthood demands patience, love, and significant support. It's crucial to celebrate our children's successes while reinforcing their understanding that making mistakes is acceptable. All of this contributes to building resilience, perseverance, and self-compassion for their limitations. Providing them with opportunities for success, whether through extracurricular activities, volunteering, or leadership roles, allows them to explore their interests and passions.

Of course, we still face struggles and disagreements, especially now with a teenager. It often requires more persuasion, nerves, and persistence. Parenting is not an easy job, even when children are healthy, intelligent, and circumstances are favorable. My husband and I are aware that we have made mistakes and will continue to do so in certain matters. But we also know that we will overcome, survive, learn, and grow from them.

We pave the way and choose paths to the best of our abilities and knowledge. We encourage independence and develop problem-solving skills, work habits, self-confidence, and trust in ourselves and in growth. I believe this is the best foundation for a fulfilling life.

Have you ever encountered a similar situation where your child faced an seemingly unsolvable challenge? How did you overcome it? Feel free to share your stories and beliefs in our Instagram or Facebook on how you approach such challenges. Your stories can inspire and help others facing similar situations.

Bojana