at my daughters school (K-grade5) they choose a student of the month from each grade level. one girl, one boy from each grade. my daughter was chosen second grade student of the month for september. as a reward, the school takes all the students of the month to a fun park and treats them to goofy golf, games and laser tag. i cut out of work early and tagged along, not to participate, just to hang out and spend some with my daughter and her friends. they played golf first and then went to the arcade for a while. then it was time for laser tag. they split themselves into two groups, girls on one side, boys on the other…of course. i ended up being recruited by the girls to be their dad player and another dad was recruited by the boys. we suited up, attended the rules briefing and were ready to play. the game starts out and i just kinda walk around letting the kids do their own thing. but then the score starts showing that we are losing pretty bad. and i notice the other dad is playing for keeps. no more mr. guy. mr. competitive kicks in. a kind of jeckyl and hyde transformation. at one point i had the whole other team trapped and was just nailing them. when the game was over, we ended up winning easily and the other team had this look on their faces of total disappointment at having been beaten so bad by the girls…and a dad.
my daughter was ecstatic, but i felt a little bad. kinda like ralphy in a christmas story when he loses it and kicks the sh*t out of the bully kid. i know most of us as triathletes are very competitive in sport, but have you ever had your competitive beast take over in other life situations…when it’s not really necessary?
I’m speaking from experience here. It’s laser tag. You must always play for keeps. There’s just no way around it. Those little buggers need to learn to keep their bodies hidden and then learn how to work as a team and gang up on the dads. Being second graders, I doubt they were scarred too deeply. Admit it, though. It was fun playing with the kids and hanging out with your daughter.
but have you ever had your competitive beast take over in other life situations…when it’s not really necessary?
HAVE ya READ any of the posts on here lately? Like the IM finisher photo thread, for example?!
My mom always used to tell me (like moms all over) that it didn’t matter if you win or lose that it was about having fun. I used reply, how can it be fun if you lose I think it is important for kids to learn that you rarely get to do anything that isn’t competition and that you need to learn how to win and lose, it is just life. I know, for me anyway, it is hard to turn the competitive side off sometimes even when I know I should.
Your daughter had a good time and thats what counts
oh yeah. she had a great time. she’s as competitive as i am…maybe more. she’s one of those kids that can’t handle not making an A on every test in school…hence the student of the month. and we put zero pressure on her and never have. we haven’t had to. she is very self driven.
my wife is the balance in the mix. she’s like most moms and encourages our daughter to have fun above all.
you’re right about the other dad. i was just cruzin around in the dark keeping an eye on things and letting the kiddies have their fun, assuming the other dad was doing the same. i figured if we came across each other we’d nod and keep moving. then i come around a corner and this dude is duckin and weavin and firing away. game on.
I think it is important for kids to learn that you rarely get to do anything that isn’t competition and that you need to learn how to win and lose, it is just life. I know, for me anyway, it is hard to turn the competitive side off sometimes even when I know I should.