MAKING MISTAKES

After you make a mistake it is important to remember that THE ONLY THING YOU CAN NOT CHANGE IS THE PAST. So the mistake has been made, and now you have to deal with it.

"Everybody makes mistakes. That is why they put erasers on pencils."*

The way you tell the grownups from the children is what they do after they make a mistake.

Children blame others for their mistake. Grownups admit their mistakes.

Children expect other people to clean up after their mistakes. Grownups accept responsibility for fixing the problems caused by their mistakes.

Children believe that people can be perfect, and that mistakes should NEVER happen.

Grownups realize that MISTAKES CAN HAPPEN, and they do their best to prevent mistakes, knowing that they can prevent some, but not all, mistakes.

Grownups also try not to say, "I TOLD YOU SO", when someone ignores a warning and makes a mistake. (I am not very good at resisting saying, "I told you so." Sigh.)

*Square One, a PBS math show for children, which sadly and stupidly went off the air. The show really taught math, our kids need to know math. I have NEVER understood how such an entertaining and effective show could be canceled.