Bridgette loves competing with me from time to time. Whether it’s a race down the stairs, or an eye blinking competition, my little girl loves to beat me. Sometimes, I intentionally let her win, just to see the glory in her eyes. But I’m also careful to convey that losing is okay too. Despite my attempts to teach by example on what it means to be a good sport, Bridgette really is quite the sore loser most of the time. I’m hoping that will eventually change.
Yesterday, we were at the Disney Store in downtown San Francisco. There is a long winding staircase inside the store, and as we made our way down the stairs, Bridgette initiated a “race” with me. I skipped down the stairs quickly, winning her by at least 20 steps.
“I won!!” I exclaimed with my arms up in victory. I waited patiently for her to get down the stairs, where she shook her head in disapproval and said, “Mommy, you didn’t finish listening to me. I meant I wanted to see who would be the slowest, not the fastest. So, I won!”
With that, my triumphant 4 year old giddily ran to her cousin to share the victory. I stared at her in amazement, wondering how she always manages to flip things around to her advantage.
