We have had a few issues with N being overly competitive. This does not pose a problem until he is playing sports and publicly loses it. We have chanted the age-old mantra until we are blue in the face, "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." Then we explain and give examples to illustrate this to the best of our abilities. Still, he gets so fired up when playing soccer or baseball that I fear for the other players. And with him playing in leagues for kids with special needs, we try to stress letting everyone have a chance at passing the ball, being successful, etc. We had to remove him from a soccer game once, and we always repeat "Be a good sport!" before the start of any game.
WELL. Today he went to a pep rally for his high school football team. After school he told me he learned something at the pep rally. Want to know what it was? "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game." Maybe it will catch on, coming from someone else. But the best part of what he learned (I think)was when someone said that it is not shameful if you lose, but that you always need to have pride in your team and pride in your heart.
Let's see if Mr. Cut-throat relaxes a little tonight at baseball.
We watched Bad News Bears last night an oldie from 1976 with Walter Matthau - same message. Unfortunately he drinks like a fish in it. But, a young Tatum O'Neal more than makes up for it.
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