A Lesson in Parenting

A very famous scientist, who had made several very important medical breakthroughs, was being interviewed by a reporter who asked him why he thought he was able to achieve so much more than the average person. In other words, what set him so far apart from others?

He responded what it all came from a lesson his mother had taught him when he was 2 years old.

He’d been trying to take a bottle of milk out of the fridge, when he lost his grip and spilled the entire contents on the kitchen floor. His mother, instead of scolding him, said, “What a wonderful mess you’ve made! I’ve rarely seen such a huge puddle of milk. Well, the damage is already done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk before we clean it up?”

Indeed, he did. And, after a few minutes, his mother continued, “You know, whenever you make a mess like this, you eventually have to clean it up. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a towel, sponge or mop. Which do you prefer?”

After they cleaned up she said, “What we have here is a failed experiment in how to carry a big bottle of milk with two tiny hands. Let’s go to the backyard, fill the bottle with water, and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it.” And they did.

The scientist then remarked that it was at that moment that [he knew he didn’t have to be afraid of making mistakes.] Instead, he learned that mistakes are just opportunities for learning something new – which after all, is what scientific experiments are all about.

That bottle of spilled milk let to a lifetime of learning experiences – experiences that were building blocks of a lifretime of world-renowned successes and medical breakthroughs.

It’s not always easy doing the right thing. How would you have responded in that situation?

Share/Bookmark