So, it's weird for me to be writing more than once in one day, though it would be my ambition to write several times a day. But I just saw Jamie Lee Curtis on Oprah, and she inspired me to jump on here and spew. I only caught the last few minutes of her interview, but her words really struck a chord in me. She has written several children's books over the past few years and her newest one is called, "Big Words for Little People." In a nutshell, it's trying to keep "real" language alive for kids these days. It kind of goes back to what I was talking about in another post about technology and how kids are so involved with their video games and blah blah blah. You may remember her in some commercials for board games like Operation where she's dressed up in scrubs and a surgeon's costume? Well, she mentioned in her interview that she was talking to some of the makers of the games and told them that her favorite game used to be Chutes and Ladders. She said that her favorite part of the game was the loooonnnng slide at the end of the game that sent you right back to the beginning if you happened to land on it. Well...it seems that too many kids were throwing temper tantrums about having to go back to the beginning of the game...and too many moms were calling the company COMPLAINING about their kids not winning the game. Mmmmmmmmmm kay. So.....................THE COMPANY CHANGED THE GAME! CHUTES AND LADDERS!!! IT IS CHANGED! All because some whiny little shits got on their impatient mothers' nerves. Whatever happened to learning how to lose graciously?? I mean...now they have rules posted outside all the ballparks instructing parents not to raise their voices at the ball games or they'll get thrown out. Most of the ball games under certain ages aren't even SCORED any more because they don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Okay, okay...I get it. Everyone and their dog is on some kind of anti-depressant now, so they have to start at age 2 to up self esteem. I get it. I'm just wondering what happens to these kids who are pampered until they're 22 and then BOOM they get fired from their cushy job in corporate America, and they have not the first idea how to handle it!
I'm just saying...kids need to experience disappointment. I realize that parents don't want their kids to face it...but let's get real...life is FULL of disappointment and if kids don't learn how to deal with it early on, then won't it just be harder later? Look...before everyone jumps down my throat, I'm not saying throw your kids in a lake full of crocodiles. I'm just saying...put the damn slide back on the board for crying out loud.
If you can't be a gracious loser...how can you be excited about winning anything?
April 7, 2008
Whats and Ladders?
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5 comments:
disappointment is inevitable and of course no one wants their child to hurt it is unrealistic. just today kg was at the park and these boys were just acting ugly and I watched for a few moments to see how she would handle it and she walked away and said you are hurting my feelings. she then asked me later why they were mean--they tried to throw sand on her--and I said well kelsey some people are mean and we just have to stick with the nice ones or tell someone when they have upset you and move on. she was distraught but I felt proud that she did not cry or run to me but instead walked away. and as far as the games we have just begun playing by the rules and at first she would be upset but then she got over it and when she does not win she exclaims,"hooray for 2nd place." sorry for the long post I just can totally relate. a lot of kids are going to have their bubbles bursted b.c they have not experienced disappointment.
I meant to say but it is unrealistic for a child not to hurt.
I am with you and Vicki on this one! We just went thru something similar with Devin. Every time he doesn't win a game or everyone doesn't play what he wants he gives up and quits playing or gets mad because he lost so I had to explain to him that its ok sometimes to lose and that sometimes we can't always win but we can keep trying, to which he replied "so you want me to be a loser then?" After a litte more explanation he finally got it and is less frustrated when losing now, he just shrugs his shoulders and says ok I'll try again, which is better than "I'm not playing anymore!" So I completely agree with your sentiments!!
You ask what are these kids going to do when they grow up when they haven't learned how to gracefully accept losing. I'm just guessing here. But, judging by historical precedents, they would probably end up as the President of the United States.
-J.
Amen sista! I completely agree. I think we all need to see what it feels like to win AND lose. What is important is how you handle losing, right? I could say more, but I might not stop. Thanks for my comment...good to hear from you.
~Debralea
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