This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Winning Children
Jan
10
2009
Sunday morning in our house: “Whoever gets their coat and boots on first is the winner.” is what I heard coming from the children as they were getting ready to head out the door for church. One child, the one who did not call out the terms of the game, got his coat and boots on and was out the door first.
As he was leaving, the first child changed it to “Whoever gets their coat and boots on second is the winner.” When I got to the van, they were both angry at each other, because the first loser was telling the other that he was the loser, and the real loser was mad for losing, and so on and so forth. They both got in trouble for that little exchange.
That evening, as they were getting ready to go out again, I heard the same child start the routine again, “The first…” but I think he learned his lesson from earlier that day, because it was different this time: “…two people who get their coats and boots on are the winners.” And then when they both got ready and out the door, the one said “We’re both winners!” And everyone was happy. Eventually, they’ll have to learn that not everyone can win all the time, but that’s good for now.
Then a couple days later, we happened to be having ice cream after dinner. I notice the younger child stand on his chair and raise both fists in the air. What was that all about? “I won! I finished my ice cream first!” And then after he and his brother finished and cleared their places, he noticed I was still eating. He couldn’t let that go: “You’re the loser! You’re the loser! You’re the loser!”
Also, he will race me up the stairs or outside to the van. When he wins, which he always does, he will sometimes tell me “I won you!” It’s so fun hearing that, I don’t feel like correcting him with “It’s ‘I beat you.’”
Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury subsides,
Genesis 27:44
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 11:19 pm and has been carefully placed in the Conversations category.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
You should instruct them that the correct phrase is “I beat you like a rented mule!”.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Actually, I think you should teach them to say, “My self-image is better than yours!”
January 13th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Why do all kids go through that phase??? I’m happy it’s subsided in our house. No more, “I finished my food first!”