I've been working my way through the old* Zelda: Wind Waker (I'd guess I'm a little over halfway? It's hard to tell with Zelda games sometimes). And aside from loving the art style (and playing with it for the mystical lady-cape-thing up there), it's been a good lesson in not taking obstacles too seriously.
You may remember the ridiculous rage-fests that were my boss fights in Skyward Sword. And yeah, there's frustration during this game as well. But I'm consciously trying to not let a few failures in a row or a puzzle I can't figure out get me worked up, and I think I'm getting better at it.
I got really angry/upset about one of the first boss fights one night, but then it occurred to me that I don't want to set that kind of example for the kiddo. Assuming, in an ideal world, we play videogames as a family when he gets a little older, do I really want him to see that failing a few times is something to completely freak out over? When Nate figures out a puzzle before I do, would I want to show a defensive reaction or a congratulatory one? This may sound corny, but I think it's important. So I sat down and did one of the sword-and-shield training challenges, not because it advanced the game, but because it would be good practice. It took me many, many tries. And sure, I'd get briefly grumpy each time I didn't make it. But then I'd let that go and try again and again until I finally got it. For a person like me who gets very anxious about not being good at things right off the bat, it was an accomplishment.
-AKA
*-Ten years old, that game is. You believe that?