Boom! Shaka-laka!

The connections come alive, and with them: insight, clarity, growth. #learning #parenting

The moment transformed from a potentially frustrating chore into a meaningful, collaborative experience, reinforcing the idea that when we look past the surface, the deeper ideas—like connection, reflection, and shared growth—come alive.

himself.
My shift from doubt to full presence, from feeling unqualified to embracing a shared learning journey, undoubtedly connected with his shift in behavior and performance.

his focus sharpened, and his technique visibly improved. During that single practice session, he improved his shotput distance by over two meters! Later that week at school, he added an additional half-meter to his best try from Saturday. He laughed, he reflected, and he felt immensely proud of

"We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience." This wasn't just about the physical act of throwing; it was about critically analyzing and understanding each attempt.

And do you know what happened next? His mood completely changed. He stuck with the drills,

but about us engaging in a shared process of discovery and practice. And as he reflected on each throw, adjusting his stance and release based on the instructions and his own feel for the movement, another truth resonated with me, one famously articulated by John Dewey:

something profound shifted. My initial frustration receded, replaced by a deep sense of presence. We weren't just "doing" shotput; we were learning, together.

This experience brought a powerful idea into focus: learning is a social construct. It wasn't about me being an expert,

spoke a word. We talked it through, visualizing the steps, and only then was he ready for the warm-up.

By accident, I even had him start with the lighter 3kg ball before moving to the 5kg, a small detail that seemed to make a big difference. As we worked through the drills, side by side,

laminated instructions for each event, complete with warm-up routines, simple techniques, and even advanced tips. This was our turning point. We didn't just glance at them. We both leaned in, first studying the images, then trying to create a mental construction of the movements before we even

This wasn't a familiar classroom setting; this was a specialized athletic skill, and I felt completely unqualified. A sigh escaped me, and I started to question if this was the best use of our precious Saturday morning.

But then, a small miracle: his PE teachers had thoughtfully created

needed to choose a field event for school, and after some deliberation, we'd settled on the throws.

As we stood there, the sun already warming the asphalt, a familiar wave of doubt washed over me. Could I really help him with this? I wanted to, desperately, but my knowledge felt utterly inadequate.