So. Today was a first for me. I actually volunteered to help at the school sports day instead of just standing watching my kids total lack of athleticism in awe. It was a beautiful day and the event has improved since we started attending these things back when Adam was in kindergarten. We and the kids all had fun and cheered everyone equally. Well, I had to. I had one child in the red team, another in yellow, and Adam in green.
So. Today was a last for Adam. He has less than 20 days of grade 7 to finish up. This was his last elementary school sports day. This was his last team cheer, his last team face paint, and his last win. Yes, his team…green…were the big winners for today.
So. Today was a first for Tara. This was her first sports day and she and her classmates were troopers, taking on each new event with the determination of Olympic athletes. They took it all very seriously. But they loved getting all dressed up for their teams and they loved their food and drink tickets that they boldly handed to us in return for pizza, freezies, donuts and water.
As a child I loathed sports day. I did not have an athletic heart or body and had absolutely NO interest in racing around cones, three legged races or whatever. I wasn’t good at physical activities and feared letting my teammates down for being too slow or too awkward. I have worked hard at making sure my own neurosis didn’t wash over onto my kids and have tried to cheer with as much enthusiasm as I could muster for these and other sporting events geared for them….but in truth have always found them tedious. I am just not that kind of person.
In truth, I don’t think I have had to worry about the kids. My kids have both been in track or cross country activities with the school and I while I was attending the latest mini meet, I couldn’t help but notice that not all the kids were good or fast runners. Most of our lot plodded in dead last, yet were still cheered on or patted on the back by their classmates.
The media spends a lot of time bemoaning the younger generations and harshly critiquing modern parenting. But I think I am seeing an example of one thing we are doing right. At the mini meet and today I never saw one unhappy kid. Everyone was equal, everyone was a teammate, everyone got cheered on. I didn’t see kids being berated for being slow or clumsy. I didn’t see anyone really laying blame. Our track team this year even has kids with injuries who can barely hobble along, yet their peers were more than happy to give them their turn, even if it cost them the race.
Being competitive is a necessary trait to have….in sensible portions that also balances out with compassion and the concept of fun and cooperation. I think our kids get this more than we do.
I certainly saw plenty of examples of this. What do you think? Are our kid not competitive enough? Or is this a better way?
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