I've been going with Taylor to unicycling once a week before school and it has been such fun to hop on my one-wheeled wonder again. I had not been on it since the 4th of July parade with you all so I was a little wobbly at first. But, I've been holding on the the side of the wall and trying to pedal along. The best part is when I get to partner ride with Taylor. He gives me tips and lets go of my hand at the free throw line at the gym to make me try it on my own. It's a fun role reversal for us as he is the teacher and coach. This morning, we had fun while I went forwards and he pedaled backwards while we were holding hands. We really could join the circus.
The thing that he told me last week when I was trying to push off from the wall and try to go on my own was the following:
1) Keep looking up- don't look down at the unicycle.
2) Sit up tall.
3) Keep peddling.
Good lessons not just for unicycling but for life in general. :)
The thing about unicycling that I LOVE is that it teaches grit. Taylor was pretty frustrated that he could not rock for a minute when he got back to school this fall when he had not practiced all summer. He only got to 55 seconds and then started to give up. His defense mechanisms are pretty typical in saying that he does not want to try it anymore (because he fears failure) and that Mr. Roberts should have counted it and that he was being unfair (it's always easier to blame someone else).
We've been talking a lot about grit and trying to encourage it as much as we can... Below is an awesome chart from the KIPP schools that we talked about over dinner last night with the kids. I especially like that they have "zest" on the list. :)
Anyway, know that I'm praying for grit, optimism, self-control, gratitude, cross-cultural social intelligence, curiosity, and zest for you four today...
XOXOXOXO
http://characterlab.org/Downloads/Character-Growth-Card.pdf FOCUSING ON 7 STRENGTHS |
KIPP’s innovative approach is grounded in the research of Dr. Martin Seligman and the late Dr. Chris Peterson (the “fathers“ of Positive Psychology). Building off a partnership with KIPP NYC, Dr. Angela Duckworth and the Riverdale Country School, KIPP’s character work focuses on seven highly predictive character strengths that are correlated to leading engaged, happy and successful lives: zest, grit, optimism, self-control, gratitude, social intelligence, and curiosity.
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