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What if I fall.....

The other day I was driving my daughter to a birthday party at a local skating rink. She was excited, this was the first party (of many I'm sure) of the new school year. My daughter is 9 years old and has never roller skated before. She's a very good roller blader...but has never done the 4 wheel skates before and she was a little nervous.

I told her that she would be fine and catch on quick. She looked at me so seriously and said....

Mom, what if I fall in front of everyone in my class? I'd be so embarrassed, what do I do?

I looked at her and told her............LAUGH!! If you are laughing, then what does it matter if they laugh also? She thought about this and seemed okay with it.

When I picked her up 2 hours later I asked her how she did. She said she only fell once and laughed it off and no one said anything more about it. She seemed happy with the outcome.

I'm happy for her, she learned a small life lesson that day...

1. If you don't make a big deal out of it, chances are...others will not either.

2. It's okay to try something new.

3. Don't take yourself so seriously.

4. Every now and then, mom does know what she is talking about!

So, now I ask ...can you laugh at yourself??

Posted by Nora Adkins on 09/29/2007 07:20 PM

Comments (25)

laugh, fall, roller skating

Post is included in group: Christianity and Real Estate

25 Comments on What if I fall.....

SEP

2007

I was on the floor when you mentioned she had mastered the inline skates, but was nervous about four wheels. My God have times changed.

Excellent life lesson.

And, yes... my sides hurt from laughing at myself.

of course, I am starting to form a complex, no one likes being laughed at.......

good point, and how true at that. Life is short so enjoy it and have fun and dust your self off and go, go,go. I don't have children but sounds like something I would say. :)

I used to skate competitively (speed skating)... falling is something that happens.

Now I play with Jeeps... roll-overs happen.

If you don't go too far, that means you aren't looking for the edge.

In my local advertising I refer to myself as the Bald Man we even did one ad where someone is rubbing my head like a crystal ball I believe in laughing atmyself it breaks the ice in alot of situations

Nora, what great lessons! I think it is so amazing (as a parent too myself) that you have such a connection with your daughter that you can have that conversation and that you really do learn from each other. I think that is incredible. Also, the old saying is true that we can learn a lot from a child. I could go back to those four sayings over and over. They are not just great advice for us, they are great advice for everybody.

Thanks guys for your comments!!

Hugh - I love that....I bet your humor has brought you much business. I often think of changing my insurance to GEICO, just because I love the commercials.

SEP

2007

Cute post, Nora! Another hint - the other kids are too worried about falling themselves to really notice whether or not anyone else does!

Nora, Great example you are for your daughter. You are a good mom!

We all fall sometimes in life and you gave an excellent example for all of us to try when we do. Gosh, you are a good "mom" to all of us!

I used to skate competitively (speed skating and artistic skating) so I got used to laughing at myself!!!!

OCT

2007

Ya gotta laugh at yerself when things go wrong every once in a while..... we ARE human after all......

=-)

great post on life!

Nora,

Great advise.....we all know people in general, young children in particular can be cruel at times. I believe laughter is the best medicine.....and your solid advise was exactly what your daughter needed.

Great advice for your daughter and all of us. We need not take ourselves so seriously and, when we do fall or fail, dust ourselves off and go forward. Excellent advice!

Trust me, that is great advice! I'm 6'8" and I've bonked my head on way too many door ways, and most of the time it's in front of people. If you don't learn to laugh and make a joke about it you find yourself missing out on a lot of great moments. Plus, it's not so bad once you do it enough... the scar tissue builds itself up and helps cushion the blow after awhile. Lucky for your daughter that she only worries about falling when roller skating. I think for my first 15 years of life I had to worry about falling just while walking down the street. Thankfully I was blessed with more co-ordination as time went on. :o)

Super post Nora and great advice for your daughter. Things will come our way all throughout our lives that we can either cry over or laugh about...we've all been there.

Could you tell your daughter to call my daughters and tell them that...sometimes...Mom really does know what she is talking about?? Thanks for sharing something we all need to remember!

OCT

2007

Laughter is such Good Medicine - releases endorphins- very good for the body and your child's physical health - great teaching her that -she will always remember what MOM said !

Great Post

Grace Safrin

OCT

2007

What a fantastic post--I love the picture of the laughing kitty. I think your daughter is going to look back at your advice to her and remember it for her kids as well!

DEC

2007

Nora,

Great advice... just laugh it off! Laughter can be great medicine and cure all kinds of social ills. I like responding after something such as the "what if I fall?" with "what if you don't?". Nice story! Great moral!

JAN

2008

Hi Nora! I've had similar conversations with both of my girls and they've learned the same lessons. . .except mine has "Dad" inserted where you have "Mom". Enjoyed the post.

FEB

2008

Very good advice indeed... of course, it's always easier if everyone else falls too. :-)

FEB

2008

I enjoyed your joy and cherish these moments with my children as you have shared. Thanks Nora.

John Hurbon

Creator of the

PUPPY SONG PARTY

Also a friend of Mike In Tucson.

Keep Blogging Nora

I love this post Nora. I am a mom myself having raised 2 great children and now 3 stepchildren. The cat picture is priceless. I am a cat lover too. This gave me a smile. Thanks.

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