No, these are not words from E1 and E2. These are my words. These are my husband's words. We win almost always when we play board games or card games or any game against our girls.
We do not believe in throwing the game to make them feel better. If you want to win, learn how to win. Does the game require a specific strategy? Does the game have tricks? Do you need to move faster, slower? Is it all just luck? We have kicked their asses more times than I can count and they are just fine.
Each daughter has learned how to go from a sore loser - picture candy land board and pieces flying threw the playroom - to gracious winners. We do not stick out our tongues, roll eyes, or quit. We never quit. Quitters never win.
It is exhilarating for them when they do win because they know they earned it. There are no participation trophies in this house.
Tonight, E1 and I were playing squares and I was crushing her. She was not paying attention and I took advantage of this fact. She said, " I thought you were going to go easy on me. I am only almost 7." I explained to her that she needed to pay closer attention to what she was doing and while she most likely would not win, she could come close. I also asked her to remember a time when I or daddy threw a game so she could win.
It seems the "pep talk" worked. While E1 did not win, she finally figured out the strategy and started thinking one, two, three steps ahead and learned where and when to make her mark.
I love it when the girls win. Their pride and smile light up the entire house and for a brief moment they are the Queen of Candy Land, The Tic- Tac- Toe Champ, and The Best at Hi-Ho-Cherry-o.
Mommy Dearest! Love it!
ReplyDelete