Of all the misunderstood words in the English language, ‘failure’ is at the top of the pile. 

It has such negative connotations. We see it as something we should be ashamed of, something we should run from, something we should avoid at all costs. 

Why is that? 

And let me ask this: do we really want our children to be ashamed of themselves when they make a mistake? 

Of course not.  

Instead, we want them to form a healthy relationship with failure. 

We want them to understand that we learn far more from our failures than we do from our successes, that failure is the ultimate teacher and the greatest of mentors. 

In the words of Master Yoda, ‘The greatest teacher, failure is.’ 

But only if we welcome it – only if we choose to see failure in that light. 

When we do, we become better human beings – wiser, more knowledgeable, more empathetic. This allows us to fail again, but in new, different and exciting ways.  

We call this growth. Not of the body, but of the mind. 

Reinforce this lesson with your children every day: it’s OK to fail. Mistakes are unavoidable. Every mistake is an opportunity to grow.  

And it might not seem like they’re getting the memo at first; it might appear that they’re not listening or paying attention. But they are. I guarantee it, especially when we parents practice what we preach. 

Failure is unavoidable.  

Failure is a gift.