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Whatever Happened To......
by kpthatsme at 7/18/2015 1:10:17 AM
Receiving a trophy for actually winning? One of my nephews plays on a Little League team. We had gone to one of his games. We had arrived in the 2nd inning and I had asked him what the score was. His reply was "oh we don't keep score". (but he did whisper to me that they were winning).
This befuddled my mind...don't keep score? Well how do you know who won? Or who is in 1st place? Or who wins the whole thing at the end of the summer? Who gets the trophy?
His response was that they all get the same trophy at the end of the year - a "participation" trophy. So let me get this straight - you get a trophy for just showing up? I guess I just don't get it.
I know this will offend some but I'm glad my son grew up when he did. I'm glad that he learned about sportsmanship and not always winning and working harder to do better next time. I'm glad that he grew up in a time when he could learn life lessons such as taking defeat with dignity and that life isn't always fair. I'm glad that he grew up learning that he wouldn't always make the team that he wanted to be on.
In this day of "political correctness", I think a lot of life lessons have been lost in the shuffle of trying not to hurt little Johnny's feelings. I think little Johnny would learn a lot more than thinking he could just skate by in life by just showing up.
Back in the day, our kids learned lessons that they will remember for the rest of their lives. They learned that life isn't always fair and how to handle the disappointment. My son was pulled from his quarterback position ( one that he had for 3 years) and made a running back. Why? The coach's son wanted to be quarterback. Was it fair? No but he handled it well and learned that he was indeed a better running back than a quarterback. It was all about teamwork and working together even if you didn't like or agree with decisions that were made. Just like life.
So, I'm glad my son grew up when he did. He's turned out quite well and not maladjusted because of not making a team or not winning a game or not playing a position that he loved. I'm glad he strove to win the big trophy even if he didn't win it, he tried his hardest. That's all one can ask of anyone.
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