We are a lot alike, my son and I. We share the same dreamer personality. Dreamer personalities are creative, imaginative, artistic, sensitive, driven by their heart and their emotions, they dislike conflict and are easily hurt. I did not even realize that I was a dreamer until I had William and he started demonstrating these qualities and then somebody pointed out that he is just like me.

The other day I was reflecting on Williams school work and I was beginning to notice that he does not like to attempt things where there may be a chance of him failing. He doesn’t like to be wrong and he doesn’t like to look silly. Dreamer personalities strive for perfection and without it we feel discouraged. We hate criticism or even the thought of it and we react emotionally to it. So if there is a chance of failure we may not even try, failure is frightening.

He takes after me. I realized all this as I sat at my computer debating whether on not to sign up for an art class here at Bethel church. My finger was hovering over the register button. The thoughts that are running fast through my mind are holding me back.  I can not draw or paint very well, what if I look foolish, what if other people who are there are better then me and my work is nothing compared to theirs, what if I fail?

I want my precious son to not feel bound by his fears and to know that sometimes perfection is not everything.  I want him to try new things with confidence, to be able to take criticism and to grow and learn from it, to know that it is ok to fail and that if you do then just get back up and try again. Most of all I want him to be brave.

I can teach him best by showing him. I clicked that button and I registered. Art class here I come!

“There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask “What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?”
― Erin Hanson