-5yo 9yo Sisters From Nha Trang- Vietnam- Try... ✦

What two young girls taught me about trying hard things for the first time.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone needing a little push to try something new, here’s what these two sisters taught me. For this post, let’s assume they were trying a common “first” for kids—but you can adapt this to: cooking a new dish, learning to swim in the ocean, riding a bike, or speaking English in public.

That’s the only metric that matters. Inspired by Mai & Lan:

I recently spent an afternoon watching two sisters—Mai (9) and Lan (5)—from the beautiful coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. They were about to try something completely new to them. -5yo 9yo Sisters From Nha Trang- Vietnam- Try...

But did the 5yo and 9yo sisters from Nha Trang, Vietnam try ? Absolutely.

— Inspired by two brave sisters and a very sticky kitchen table.

At first, the 5-year-old hid behind her sister’s back. The 9-year-old put on a brave face but kept glancing at the adults for approval. What happened next was a masterclass in resilience, sibling support, and the simple joy of learning. What two young girls taught me about trying

Then they high-fived, sticky hands and all.

Find your “sister.” Not someone who will fix your problems, but someone who will sit in the ugly, messy middle with you and say, “Yeah, mine’s a disaster too. Keep going.” Final Result: Did They Succeed? The spring rolls? Questionable. Some were too wet, some fell apart, and one looked like a shrimp sleeping in a wet napkin. That’s the only metric that matters

5 & 9 Year Old Sisters from Nha Trang, Vietnam Try Something New: Lessons in Courage (and Messy Fun)

And at the end, sitting on the floor with their lumpy creations, the 9-year-old looked at the 5-year-old and said, “Làm lại nhé?” (“Let’s do it again?”)