by Daniel Nathan

Created on: June 27, 2009

Not all stumbling blocks are stepping stones, children should only be encouraged to overcome situations they are capable of overcoming. It would have made no sense for Thomas Edison to grind at school in an effort to prove that he could overcome the stumbling block of being called, "dull and unable to learn", by his teacher. He was an inventor at heart, and he probably would have made a horrible academic. Not every difficult situation is similar to a caterpillar trying to get of its cocoon, some are honestly insurmountable. Michael Jordan tried playing baseball and I'm sure approached it with the same determination and focus he approached basketball with, but he was horrible at it. He didn't continue grinding at it or punishing himself with dreams of a world series win. He stopped, changed direction, returned to basketball and won three more championships. Had he stayed with baseball he would have been a dead caterpillar, unable to break free of his cocoon. In other words, had he stubbornly looked at his miserable baseball performance as a stepping stone, it's stone that would have crushed him.

Stumbling blocks are unavoidable in the life of a child,but are more life directions than stepping stones, except in situations where they clearly direct the child to persevere. If a child is faster than most children, is athletically gifted and loves sports, but lacks confidence and misses shots or pitches, the shortcomings can be seen as stepping stones. Only because the child is clearly capable but not confident. Similarly, if a child enjoys studying and excels at schoolwork, but is also shy, socially awkward and therefore hesitant to go to school, it might be looked at as a stepping stone, because chances are the child will excel academically.

Assuming that all stumbling blocks are stepping stones means buying into the notion that children can do anything and everything. A notion that has led to many children going through immense pain and still failing. Children will succeed at what they are capable of, if encouraged to put energy and focus into it, but emphasis must be placed on capability. We must honestly admit that as humans, children are not capable of everything. Children should be made aware of the they are far more capable of doing some things than most people ever will be, and they will always be more capable at these things, no matter how hard the other people try. It is equally as important for a child to know that there are people who are much more capable of doing some things than he or she ever will be, no matter how hard he or she tries.

Some, if not most, stumbling blocks, are not stepping stones at all. They are huge boulders that will crush the child if he or she is not moved out of its way. The inability to discern when this is the case leads to failures and misery. Conversely knowing when this is the case leads the child to the things which might be boulders to others, but due to his or her capabilities are eventually overcome.

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