A Bit of the Real

 I have failed multiple times.  In fact, I have lost count of it.  But today, my child failed. And he cried.  Actually, he cried a lot. I wanted to comfort him and explain him why losing is not a big deal. But he is too young to understand it. He does not know that failure is only going to make him tougher.  I am sure, he will learn in the coming days and years.  But today he didn't know that, and he felt extremely sad.  If it was a teenager or even a ten year old, my motivational pep talk could have worked.  But it didn't work today. He is merely 5 (and will turn 6 soon!) When he is sick, I wish the illness transfers to me instead so that he doesn't have to bear the pain.  Today I wanted to cry on his behalf so that he doesn't.  I don't want him to cry. May be I want him to lose, and fail occassionaly. Like a gym trainer hurts your muscles systematically only to make them stronger.  But today it was too much. I have been the gym trainer who trained someone so hard