Caring, sharing make you a winner

wta310713supcherie.JPG Wairarapa Times-Age senior reporter Cherie Taylor.

Winning and losing are two things most of us experience at some stage in life.

These two things are part of life and, when you are a child, it's about learning that not everyone can win everything; or so it should be. Seems our kids aren't learning this these days and, no matter what, if you take part then you are a winner.

Watching the kids at the Easter Egg hunt in the Queen Elizabeth Park children's playground on Saturday morning it was one hunt only the bigger kids had a chance of finding anything in.

As bigger kids ran around joyfully filling baskets and plastics bags full of eggs, there were tears as younger kids searched and found nothing. It was horrid to watch the disappointment on their expectant faces.

Many adults voiced how there should have been an egg limit per child.

This got my visiting adult daughter and myself talking about this winning and losing mentality and why the kids were so upset about not finding an egg.

It appears my voiceful daughter told her Miss Five's teacher that she was no longer to give her certificates of participation because she has to learn that some people in life are better at doing things than others. She is right. We have gone PC mad it seems when it comes to teaching our kids that not everyone is going to cross that line in first place.

Yes it is hard to watch the little ones upset at not winning but it is a fact of life; not everyone can win.

We can make them feel good about taking part because participation is vital but why does everyone have to win?

As a youngster, my brothers were much better at sports but they always encouraged me to take part. One would lag behind to make sure I was okay and I always felt part of their team but I knew I wouldn't win. They were just better at it than me but, by taking part, I became better and sometimes I'd be placed. And that exhilaration of winning a placing was so much sweeter when it was earned.

Caring and sharing goes way further than winning and losing though. Something one of the adults at the playground on Saturday perfected by sharing chocolate eggs with those who didn't find any in the egg hunt.

You are a winner.