The most important message you can give your child

You are a living legend. You have a brain that is capable of sheer genius. Think of the smartest person you can and know that you have that potential, too. You are just as capable, just as creative and just as clever.

But you can’t rely on your brains alone. You are going to have to try, and to keep trying. You won’t pass every test with flying colours, or win every competition or be picked for every team. You will need to work and practise and improve.

You do not need to be successful at everything you do. In fact, the times you make mistakes, get things wrong or don’t get the results you want can be used to make you even smarter.

There will be times when you will feel like giving up on the things that you want. These times will test you. But you need to keep going. Find the strength within you. It is there; look for it.

There will be things that you will think are too hard for you to do. You will be tempted to not do these things thinking it is better not to try than to fail. Often this will be your anxious brain trying to get you out of something.

If it is something you really want or is very important to you, don’t let your brain talk you out of doing it. Take the risk and even if you don’t achieve what you want the first or second time you try, you will learn more about how to achieve it next time.

Learning is some of the best fun there is. Try to find ways to make learning interesting, even the boring bits. If you surround yourself with good ideas, great books, art, films and terrific conversations, your brain will amaze you.

Most times it is easy to get interested in learning something but sometimes the only way is to challenge yourself by seeing how much you can remember or understand.

Most of all, know that I love you the same whether you win or lose. I want you to have an amazing life because I know you are capable of it.

I love you and believe in you.