Broken bone? It’ll heal. Struggle to learn the guitar? It’ll come. Impossible puzzle? Someone’s done it before. Our Dad’s Dispatch columnist turns everyday challenges into valuable life lessons for his son
Editor’s Note: This story was a part of the series You can do it, which ran in the Spring 2026 issue.
Miles Willing puts the finishing touches on a leprechaun trap ahead of last St. Patrick’s Day. Photo Credit Jon Willing
My son’s first outing to watch one of our recreational softball games was certainly memorable.
Father’s Day, 2023. I took Miles to see his mom play ball at Carlington Park. He watched her get carried off the field as teammates called 911.
“Is mommy dead?” Miles said from the bleachers as I watched his four-year-old brain try to process what was happening to mom, who had crumpled over at shortstop.
Nicole fell while fielding a ball and broke her collarbone, missing the rest of the softball season. Her road to recovery, which included surgery, also started an important learning lesson for Miles.
One of the big challenges we have faced as parents is keeping Miles’s motivation when he faces adversity. Bike riding, skating and crafting have come with tears caused by the frustration of not acing the first attempts. With every new skill, we gently urge Miles to try again and we emphasize the enjoyment of learning something new.
It’s tricky when learning isn’t fun and is sometimes painful. The first strides on the rink come with bashed knees and backsides. The first few pedals can steer an out-of-control bike into a tree. A drawing of Saturn might turn out looking like a hamburger.
A week before St. Patrick’s Day this past winter, Miles was frustrated and nervous about crafting a perfect “leprechaun trap” as an art project for class. He agonized over having the right materials. He didn’t even want to go to school. We encouraged him to not give up. He proudly unveiled the trap at home the next day.
Part of the battle is just encouraging kids to take the first step and helping them appreciate the learning process.
Lately, Nicole has been determined to solve a Rubik’s Cube. She’s been spending a couple of hours at night watching tutorials and mimicking the twists on the puzzle. Miles would come downstairs in the morning to ask if mom beat the cube yet, which currently sits on a stack of books in our living room, still a work-in-progress. But she’s not giving up.
Last summer, I bought an electric guitar. Miles has watched me struggle through the chords of AC/DC songs. Since I know I’ll never reach Angus Young-level mastery of the six string, Miles will continue to watch me fumble through songs for years. But I’m not giving up.
I’ve had my share of injuries — head, shoulders, knees and, yes, toes — and several trips to physiotherapy, but thankfully nothing has been serious enough to quit sports.
When the calendar flipped to 2024, Nicole was looking forward to getting back onto the ball diamond, not only to play for her own joy, but also to show Miles that a mishap doesn’t have to stop someone from participating in an activity forever.
Parents have the greatest influence in helping kids overcome challenges, not through pep talks, but by showing resilience when facing our own obstacles.
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