Dear Shayna B.,

I am so clumsy. I drop things, knock things over, and trip everywhere I go. It’s embarrassing and I’m afraid I’ll be doing this forever. What can I do to stop myself from doing real damage?

Dear Mishaps Michael,

It’s OK to make mistakes. Experience is the best teacher. You now know you did XYZ wrong and now you do it correctly. You know how to walk and talk because you practiced. You can do the same with almost everything else. Be extra careful with things. After all, Grandma’s china tea sets have been in the family for 12 generations. But if you just act clumsy for the rest of your life, I know a good store that sells baby-proofing stuff.

Shayna is a sixth grader and knows what kids in elementary school and middle school are going through. She can be reached at [email protected]. She’s looking forward to hearing from you! Contact: [email protected]