Chutes and Crabbers

Art Eddy
October 28, 2012

Art Eddy

Lives in: Stanhope, NJ
From: Hampton, NH
Birthday: May 6, 1979
Occupation: Stay at Home Dad, Podcast, Writer
Web: http://www.mastersofnone.com
Twitter: @DadatworkNJ

View profile »

 “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing” is a quote that has been connected to legendary football coach Vince Lombardi. Most of us have a competitive edge to be the best at something and we never want to lose. You want your kids to be successful and want nothing but the best for them. Still, as parents we need to show our kids how to be a graceful loser. No one is perfect and no one wins them all. So there will be times when your child will come up short. With that said my oldest daughter, Lily, hates to lose! Whether she is trying win at a game or be the first one down the stairs she has a strong desire to win.

Recently we started playing board games with her. She has Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land. The first game of Candy Land we played she won. She was all excited and told us over and over that she won the game.  We told her that we were happy she won, but she didn’t need to keep on telling us that she won. The next game was very different. She started out with a great lead, but ending up losing to her little sister. She got upset and asked to clean up the game and play something else.  We told her that she needed to understand that you can’t win them all and that no matter if you win or lose, you should be a good sport and be happy either way. This is something that sounds easy, but even for adults we sometimes have a hard time being a good sport in defeat.

After losing a few more games here and there Lily did not really want to play Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders any more. I thought after a few months of not playing she would want to play a game with my dad and I. She at first was a bit hesitant, but after a bit of encouragement from my dad she decided to play with us.

The game was Chutes and Ladders and we all started to slowly advance on the board. Lily started to break away from the pack and was very giddy. Her player moved to a slide and she did not want to have her character slide down and be in last place. Lily started to whimper and crab about losing. She started yelling at us to stop playing. She even started to clean up the game. My dad and I felt this to be a bit comical and we tried to not laugh….out loud.

After I put the game back together my dad and I tried to convince her to play and she had none of it. She pouted and said we should go upstairs and color. She again moved the pieces off the board and told us to stop playing. At that I told her to sit on the couch and not say a word while Bebop (her name for my dad) and I finished the game. After my dad won the game I congratulated him and thanked him for playing. I told Lily that this is how you should play the game. Tell the winner that it was a good game and that we all had fun. She didn’t really buy into that idea. She understood, but says that she likes to win and does not like to lose. I said no one really wants to lose, but in life no one wins them all.

After Lily went to bed, I told my dad we should call the game Chutes and Crabbers since Lily was so upset on the fact she was losing the game. So I created a new board game cover. I shared my Photoshop creation with my dad. He and I shared a laugh about the picture and about what happened earlier with Lily. I am waiting for the next time we bring out a game to see how Lily reacts to losing a game.  I am thinking it still won’t be pretty.

[Back to Ramblings]