The moment that stuck out the most to me at this amazing fest, was the lock picking station. I sat down at the end of the day and they started showing me what I was suppose to do. After three or four tries, I gave up, I said "Well I guess David will just have to be the lock picker in our house" Then the lock picker teacher said "keep trying you can do it", so I tried again, and again and I finally opened. Those few encouraging words, motivated me to solve my problem, to keep going, and I was so proud of myself for my accomplishment.
He then explained that it was not about picking locks it was about problem solving, and the way we go about solving a problem. I learned that with patients, curiosity, and time I can do anything. The confidence I felt after that was amazing. Then the thought occurred to me that this man had been working with over 1500 guest that day, and that 1500 people also were encouraged. What a Joy to know that before school starts that the children were taught to not give up to keep trying, to think of different approaches to the situation, to ask question, and to celebrate when they finally achieve their goal. Thinking of the confidence it gives them for that one child to say "No mom I got this" and to continue trying until he/she gets it. This was the most JOYFUL experience of my weekend. 
It was not just for kids though, I think even adults can become complacent and give up to easily on life, to say oh forget it, it is to hard, or its not worth it, meaning that they aren't willing to put in the time and effort, or if they are like me are just afraid of failing. This tinker fest, taught me that it is okay to ask questions, to mess up, to learn from your failure. This weekend I learned that failing is a blessing it taught me a whole knew way to look at life. I hope that I will be able to influence the kids I work with and teach them to be curious and confident problem solvers, critical thinkers, and most of all the JOY of tinkering.
Pictures are by Becca Bornstein and Sherry Marshall
