Character Building for My 13-Year-Old Son: A Personal Journey

Welcome back to consecutive day 1224 of a Diary of a Runpreneur! Today, I want to delve into a topic that's incredibly close to my heart: character building for my soon-to-be-13-year-old son. Before we get started, remember to subscribe, share, like, and comment. The more people we reach, the more funds we can raise on my fundraising mission to save the lives of children by attempting the ultimate ultra marathon. All the information about this challenge and how you can get involved can be found in the comments below. Thank you for your support. Now, let's get started.

My son, who is currently twelve and on the cusp of turning thirteen, is going through a transformative phase in his life. Year eight is often recognized as a pivotal year for boys, marking the onset of puberty where they grow and change in numerous ways. Recently, he's been facing some challenges, particularly in his football team, which has proven to be a real character-building experience for him.

Before he contracted long Covid, my son was one of the star players in his team. Unfortunately, the illness took him out of action for a whole year, and ever since his return, it feels like he's been playing catch-up. Despite him not always listening, I'm immensely proud of how he has overcome long Covid, regained full fitness, participated in running races, and excelled in various other activities. However, football hasn't come back to him as easily as other pursuits, and this has been a source of frustration for him.

Today was another one of those challenging days where things didn't go his way. Trying to help him build character and resilience, I showed him a video by Robin van Persie, the former professional footballer for Arsenal and Manchester United. In this inspirational clip, van Persie speaks candidly to his son, who also aspires to be a professional footballer but has been struggling to secure a spot on the youth team at Feyenoord.

Robin van Persie's message was simple yet impactful: he told his son that making excuses is a trait of losers, whereas winners take control of their situation and work harder to achieve their goals. Van Persie reassured his son that regardless of whether he becomes a professional footballer or not, his love for him remains unconditional. But he also emphasized the importance of adopting a winning mentality and not succumbing to excuses.

Although my son didn't immediately resonate with van Persie's message, I hope that it will alter his mindset over time. Today didn't go as planned—he didn't play as well or as long as he wanted, and his team lost despite being favorites.

These setbacks can easily be explained away with excuses, but I want him to see them as opportunities to grow stronger and more resilient.

As I reflect on the day, it occurs to me that fostering a winner's mentality in children doesn't guarantee they will become winners in every situation, nor is it a black-and-white spectrum. Instead, it's about instilling a mindset that encourages them to respond proactively to challenges and setbacks. This is the essence of character building.

I struggle with how to best help my son overcome his inclination towards excuses. Van Persie's approach may seem ruthless to some, but I believe that instilling a winning mentality at a young age can set the foundation for success and fulfillment in any area of life.

So, those are my learnings from today's diary entry. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think van Persie's message is too harsh, or is it exactly what young people need to hear? I'm always open to feedback, so please drop me a line.

Thank you again for your support. Remember to subscribe, share, like, and comment to help us reach more people and raise more funds for our mission. All the information you need about my ultimate ultra marathon challenge is in the comments below. Stay positive, stay happy, and I'll see you again tomorrow.