So Young.

I sat down in the corner of the climbing gym last week with a boy no older than 11.
I asked him why he was so sad and angry with everyone, and why I could not help him to climb.

He looked at me and answered " I have never won anything in my life, and I never will." Now this boy is not the strongest climber in the class, he is often distracted and causing a ruckus while the other kids are trying to learn and practice. I looked at him and didn't know what to say... I could not lie to him so I started trying to explain to him how some games are played against yourself, and you really should not compare yourself to others- He stopped me and continued " none of the other kids like me and i have no friends... no one really loves me".

When should a young boy ever have these ideas in his head?
Why are some kids so burdened with social awareness when they still lack the ability to understand themselves?

I am afraid for this boy.
I gave him a hug and asked him to come back and play with the group, but he walked away from me and cried in a corner.


Teaching kids to climb is teaching me more than I ever expected.
And I need to do something with this knowledge. I cannot forget it.