Remember kids: Sucking at something is the first step at getting kinda good at something. Failure teaches you many, many things. It teaches you how to handle adversity. It teaches you sportsmanship, character, and humility. It teaches you that not all of us are winners, and in the various games of life some people, through no faults of their own, are not going to 'win.' Failure also exposes your faults, and examining your failings will, if followed up, make you a better person. Removing failure from education being a disaster is one of the few things that my mom and I agree on. Kids have to be allowed to fail, to fall flat on their ass and just not make it. Learning how to dust yourself off and get back up to try again is something every kid needs to know how to do, and do well if they want to be functional adults.
Now tell us about your mom. Is she a teacher?Removing failure from education being a disaster is one of the few things that my mom and I agree on.
Improv does that because you get up and fail all the time and move on. You take interpersonal risks in an atmosphere that is generally warm and accepting.
My mom is an angry old Irish Catholic woman. She's gruff, harsh around the edges and will tell you exactly what she thinks of you. If you piss her off not even the angels in heaven will come to your defense. If you are her friend, she will storm the gates of hell with you, all while having a smile on her face. It took me too long in life to realize that she is an awesome person; she made me what I am today.