I have always struggled with the concept of letting you kids win a contest to make you feel good! It must be a "mom thing". Grasshopper No.4 and I would play the basketball game of "horse" on our driveway hoop. I would beat him continuously! Mom would ask, "why don't you let him win"? "It would encourage him and make him feel good". I could never bring myself to fail on purpose. I guess it wasn't in my character.
So in this life of "feel good" attitudes where teachers are afraid to discipline kids, students are not graduating in record numbers, playstation games dominate the exercise scene (I guess the thumbs get plenty of action) and kids live at home until they are 50 years old, I ask, how is this "make your child feel good working"?
Feel good my a--! Let kids learn the hard lessons in life. The good things are worth earning. Hard work pays off. Losing is part of the journey. Suck it up. As Grasshopper No.3 would say "rub some dirt on it".
This week I played 8 games of "horse" with my youngest Grandson from Madison. He is very energetic with an unrealistic belief he can beat me. I did consider for a short moment (very short), maybe I should let him win. I won all 8 games. There were a couple of "skunks" where he didn't get a point. Did I mention he can't count. Sometimes I had 3 "horses" on him and he could a only remember one. I thought only "old" people had short memories?
The lesson Grasshoppers is that life is tough. Losing is part of life. If you don't like losing, develop the skills to make you a winner. When you earn the win, you will really feel good. I love the word "earn".
I think I saw the Easter Bunny in the back yard eating my flowers.
Love
Dad