Comments on: “Just Try It, Mama” or Lessons from the 5-Year Old

By: I Did It! I Got My Ham Radio License! | The MatriX Files

I Did It! I Got My Ham Radio License! | The MatriX Files — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:52:37 +0000

[…] couple of months ago, I blogged about how my 5-year old son challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and get my ham radio license. Wanting to set a good example, I […]

By: Joanna Pineda

Joanna Pineda — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:09:26 +0000

I am just thrilled to hear that other parents have been inspired by their kids to try something new and different. And how interesting that so many of you are doing improv!

I think every parent’s goal is to be a good teacher and parent to their kids, but it seems that often times, it’s the kids who turn out to be our best teachers! I’ll keep you all posted on the drumming and the ham radio test.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:28:44 +0000

We’ve discovered the fountain of youth in our kids— how wonderful! (Although after taking on my daughter’s challenge of doing a back-walkover, my body won’t ever be the same…)

By: Lowell

Lowell — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:16:28 +0000

All these improv comments are a riot. I’ve been “thinking about” jumping in for a few years. Recently I read a post by Boaz (tinyurl.com/myyjb9) where the bottom line was “don’t hesitate.” Last night I was in my first of an 8-session improv for beginners program! The effect is already surprising.

By: Joe Grossberg

Joe Grossberg — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:03:22 +0000

Like Patrick, I tried improv too. It wasn’t inspired by a young child and I didn’t enjoy it, but I am glad that I tried it!

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:28:25 +0000

Great post. First off, I love the rule about having to try the food before passing judgement. I was one of those kids who never got to have run of the mill meatloaf, and mac and cheese. My mom is a great cook, and highly experimental in the kitchen, so I’d come home from my schoolmates’ houses, as they were ordering pizza for dinner, to find my family’s dinner table set with some kind of calamari concoction, Malaysian chicken, or grilled bananas and mango chutney-and ALWAYS had to “try” it. Years later I am grateful for my foodie mom’s adventuresome cooking and “just try it” mantra. Plus, once I turned 8 we got a dog, who my brother and I quickly realized, if I didn’t like what was on the table after “just trying it” Indiana Jones (my dog) never refused a table scrap or two… :-)

My comfort zone is painting, fly fishing, reading, quiet things that don’t involve big crowds. In terms of public speaking, I have always been a bit more on the shy side, and struggled with public speaking. So it has always been a goal of mine to up and hold a crowd with confidence…(or at least a dinner table, or a conference room full of co-workers). Maybe something like Toast Masters is in my future?

Cheers! and good luck with your ham radio test!

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:16:43 +0000

Inspiring blog post!

By: Patrick Brookover

Patrick Brookover — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:36:05 +0000

This is how I did two years of improv. Challenged by a five year old to try something new and out of the box. And she was right.