Addy Talks…. Winning.

With Addy doing competition gymnastics, I have always stressed the importance of doing your best and having fun. It’s not always about winning.

(We have a problem with competitiveness with our little red head.)

Since my half marathons always give medals at the finish line, it was a legitimate question for her to ask if I was going to receive a medal after completing my Tri.

I told her I didn’t know if I would. She informed me that if I didn’t get a medal, she would give me one of hers, because “she didn’t need them all.”

On Saturday morning, we were headed to the race, and she told me this little gem:

“Mommy. I don’t care if you lose. All that is important is that you have fun.”

Right. I guess she WAS listening to all of my pep talks about it.

After I crossed the finish line, she walked with me back to the transition area to get all my stuff and started a conversation that went like this:

“Mommy. Why didn’t you get a medal?”

Me: “Well, they didn’t give finisher medals.”

“Well, THOSE people got them!”

Me: “Yes, they placed in their age group so they got a medal.”

“What does that mean?”

Me: “Well, it means they did their very best so they got a medal. Like what you do in gymnastics. If you didn’t do your best, then you wouldn’t get a medal.” (Very satisfied with my answer.)

“Mommy? Did you not do YOUR very best?” (touche, kid)

Me: “Well…. yes. But their best was better than my best.”

“But WHY didn’t you get a medal?! If you did your best, you should get a medal!”

I feel certain that conversation could have gone round and round for hours, luckily we were interrupted by someone.

I may butt heads with this kid all day long, but man, I love her sassiness!