This archive report was first published on 5 July 2019.
As I celebrated my sister's milestone birthday in London, I couldn't help but reflect on the lessons I learned from two spectacular musical plays, School of Rock and Matilda. The plays, which I watched with my daughter Amy and her two sons, Jack and Daniel, taught us valuable lessons about self-esteem, conflict resolution, and the importance of embracing our talents.
One evening, Amy and I took the boys to see School of Rock, a musical about a struggling rock guitarist who disguises himself as a temporary teacher at a prestigious primary school. The play's message is clear: by embracing our talents and defying strict discipline, we can gain confidence and have fun. The renegade teacher, who smuggled his charges out of the school to compete in a 'Battle of the Bands,' taught the children that rock 'n' roll is the way to stand up for themselves.
As we watched the play, I couldn't help but think about the children in our lives who may be feeling 'not OK' about themselves. The unhappy guitarist, who was filled with 'I'm not OK' feelings, was transformed by the children's talent and confidence on stage. The happy ending saw the parents and teachers also buy into the new scenario, feeling their children were 'OK' too.
The next day, we went to see Matilda, a musical based on the best-selling novel by Roald Dahl. Like School of Rock, it is set in a school and has strikingly similar messages. The precocious Matilda, a voracious reader, rose above the daunting challenges she faced, including a brutal headmistress and cruel parents. The ending, however, was not a win-win, as both her parents and the headmistress were forced to exit in shame.
As a father, I couldn't help but think about how these lessons can be applied to our children's lives. Do they feel 'OK' about themselves? Do they see others as being 'OK'? Do they have grown-ups in their lives who treat them as 'Not OK,' eroding their self-esteem and making them feel like losers? These are questions that we must ask ourselves and our children.
As we reflect on the stories of both plays, let us share them with our children and think deeply about what they tell us about winning and losing. By doing so, we can help our children gain self-esteem, resolve issues, and feel more 'OK' about themselves and those around them.
This story was originally published in the Business Daily on July 5, 2019.
