On your mark, get set....

 
"...doesn't really matter who win this race because the just do it again anyway."
~From a child's drawing of a rocket ship race for "Ruler of the Universe Forever and Ever"

 I love this sentiment!! I hate that we're too scared to declare winners and losers in children's sports, classroom games, or where ever else people have taken away "winning" from children to shield the losers. You lost...so what? Know what happens when I lose? I practice harder and make sure my next game (or concert) is up to snuff, and I win. Even if the numbers don't say I win, I ultimately do because I've improved my game or playing. The more I lose, the harder I try, the better I become...jees, ya know what? Seems like I haven't really lost at all. Would the person who is for no winners/losers accept their child bringing home a report card with with no grades because a teacher was afraid to hurt their feelings with a low average? Will that child, when he or she becomes an adult, be able to handle a job where their performance is judged and their pay is effected by their skills? Is it beneficial to set children up to fail as adults by taking away the experience of what to do when you lose; or fair to take away the gratification of winning because you worked really hard to be better than everyone else?

I used to feel bad declaring winners and losers. I totally bought into not hurting people's feelings. So, for example, Freeze Dance...we all dance and freeze, no one is "out". The children hate it! They beg for me to call winners and losers. They try hard not to move...not even to breath or blink when the music stops. They love practicing their inhibitory control! After a while, when no one is called "out", they start to really hate this game that they normally begged to play all class, every class. They want the recognition (children love to be noticed!!). It seems obvious to me, it's not the children who care if they win or lose, it's their adults (what ever adult around them that has chosen to "spare" their feelings).

In my honest opinion, this practice makes a bunch of C students, who don't know how to take losing, and don't improve themselves (and in time our world). But hey, C is good enough to be president, right? And now, before I even go there, I bid you adieu!

PS it turns out Stefan's milk allergy is still there. I think he's less sensitive, so while I can take in some occasional dairy with out noticeable effect, he cannot eat it himself without a very sudden, dangerously violent reaction. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to lessen, and he'll be able to enjoy pizza and ice cream with his friends one day, when he actually cares about diary.