When You Fall On Your Face

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“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

This isn’t a story about me falling on my face (although I have plenty of those stories) but a recent incident when my 6-year-old son, Mr. D, fell on his. Although I’m sure I echo the sentiments of many parents when I say I’d happily take my kids’ falls for them if I could.

It happened when we were playing Little League summer ball. Ten-year-old Miss O was able to play on the team too and it was an informal sandlot team that would divide into two teams and scrimmage with whoever showed up.

There was one difference between summer ball and the first season of baseball that Mr. D played – they played outs. If someone got the ball and forced an out or tagged an out, the player would go back to the dugout.

But in this hodgepodge of rules, the teams still batted everyone in their lineup each turn at bat. The last person at bat was the “homerun hitter” meaning they and anyone else who was on base would run home.

On the last inning of a scrimmage one night in July, Mr. D was the homerun hitter. He hit the ball squarely. But by the time he’d gotten to third base and was rounding to home, the other team had gotten the ball. All the players on the other team were chasing him down the third base line. It was only about five of them but it still felt like a terrifying and mad pursuit. That’s when he fell on his face.

He was furious! His sister tried to give him a hand up and he slapped it away. So she was furious because he’d refused her help. I tried to help too but he was inconsolable. Since he was the last hitter of the last inning of the game we managed to get to the car and leave but not before everyone was well aware of our upset.

On the way home, we talked about how sports makes us want to try and how it hurts when we don’t make the play. But the tradeoff is not trying at all. Actually, Miss O and I talked about that, Mr. D said very little.

At bedtime, Mr. D went to get his journal and wrote the very first thing he’s ever written in it. He asked me, “Mom, how do you spell ‘Slide like this?’”

The next morning he told me he wouldn’t be able to go to camp because he was still thinking about the baseball thing. I responded that he’d probably think about the baseball thing all day and it would be more tolerable at camp when he was busy than at home when he was not. He finally agreed to go to camp.

When we picked up the boys we were carpooling to camp with, he said to them, “I have to tell you a baseball story. It’s not good.” I was astounded. He’s not nearly as verbose as his sister.

It was only when he told the story to them that I understood that he didn’t fall on his face – he was trying to slide. But he’d never tried it before and didn’t know that you can’t slide from halfway down the base line. Or maybe you can – but it takes a lot more practice.

So, he fell on his face. He wrote about it. He told others about it. And once he did, seemed to be over it.

Here’s my takeaway. Sometimes we try new things and it doesn’t go well. It hurts like hell but you recover more quickly when you share.

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

I host the How to Share podcast, a podcast about collaboration – in our families, friendships, at work and in the world.

I also co-host the Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast, an author, creator and storytelling podcast with the amazing Vicki Atkinson.

78 thoughts on “When You Fall On Your Face”

  3. Michele took the words right out of my mouth. Such a sweet story, and kudos to Mr. D for trying something new under pressure, failing, and then being willing to talk about it! He’s figuring thing out earlier than a lot of us did. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

  4. What a story. I just watched a podcast focused on men being able to express their feelings and talk about things they’d undergone. It’s nice to read a story where a young boy is able to articulate his feelings and share his experience with such ease. High five Wynne!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. what a wonderful path he took from sliding down that baseline on his face to learning about how and where and when to slide and how to share what he learned with others. very well done on his part. an amazing life lesson.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I love the lessons learned here…and the fact that Mr. D was brave enough to attempt to slide, even if his effort fell just a bit short. Reminds me of a scene in “Major League” actually!

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Now that’s my idea of a great baseball story. I love that Mr D was trying to slide into home, that he even knew about sliding. He’s obviously watched games that weren’t of the sandlot variety! Good man, Mr D!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. It’s amazing how kids know how to learn from their failures. I feel for Miss O for trying to help and being shut down (I would have been that sister). The fact that Mr D could talk about it later says volumes. Hugs to all.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. This story…this story. I wish I could peek into the future to see all the good that Mr. D is destined to do. I can feel it. Such a beautiful post, Wynne. Thank you for sharing these moments with all of us. 🥰🥰🥰

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Ouch was my first reaction and my second, what a wonderful learning experience. Sliding isn’t easy and going head first is the hardest (I think). But like so many things, the first time you do them is rarely a success. I love Mr. D’s attitude. He’s a positive thinker.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Excellent story. I love that he finally processed what had happened, and then explained it in a way that would help others, too. I can imagine him practicing the slide until he figures it out. Then that would be another great story to tell.

    Like

  19. Someday reach him how to do a “fadeaway slide.” Even very few Major Leaguers do it these days. It will make me the star of the game when he does it. Here’s to “Pete Crow-Leon!

    Like

  22. I know everyone is wired differently, but I’m someone who gets over his problems by discussing them rather than keeping them bottled inside. I understand that some people are more private, and there is no right answer, but I find writing or speaking about these things lightens the load. Sometimes a friend will share a similar experience, and we connect through understanding or laughter.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. The falling sucked but the lesson learned and the maturity demonstrated by young Mr D must have been a sweet marvel to behold, Wynne. A young man wise beyond his years. It does suck when things that we try fail but how great that he took the time to reflect on it – and to feel out the feels – and then move on. I see this as a big win for him!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. To feel out the feels — such a great way to put it, Ab! Yes! I think it’s a win too. But in the next game they played, he didn’t want to be homerun hitter and I can’t really blame him for that. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  26. When you started to read your post, I was thinking that he was trying to do a slide to home base. There is no way that he will hit the ball the way he did and ran past third base just to fall. I’m glad that’s what he was trying to do and by the way, my goodness at 6 years-old, he is already showing a strong character. Great post and life lesson, my friend.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Sometimes we try new things and it doesn’t work. Sometimes we try to help someone without really knowing what help they need. Both times when we stop, explore, question, learn- we get better.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. What a story! Mr. D grabbing his journal made my heart smile. He needed to express his feelings in his own way, and he did—twice (by telling his friends his story). I can’t express it enough, you’re such a great mom. It’s because of your parenting that he knows to do this. Fabulous job, Wynne!💕🌸

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Mr D has guts! He attempted something without having been taught. Kudos! My grand=twins attended a summer baseball camp for a day, where the teachers were from the city baseball team, and the had a whole class where the kids learned how to do a slide safely and then they all got to practice. Mr. D just needs to practice it more!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. This is a fabulous story. Great photo of Mr. D midair too! I love the wise mom logic: “more tolerable at camp when he was busy than at home when he was not.” Turned out to be very true because he could tell his story!

    Liked by 2 people

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