you don't have to cry

Yesterday afternoon, we decided to buy Matty a baseball glove for his T-ball. While at the store, we thought it's about time to introduce Matty to board game. We bought Hi-Ho Cheerio, a counting game which disappointingly only goes up to 10.

Matty woke up bright and early at 5:45 and wanted to play it. We were having fun until I said, "There's only 1 chery left on my tree, I'm winning!" and that was the end of our fun. With the hysterics, it took me a few minutes to realize that he wanted to win, not me!

It took me a few minutes to think of proper action: should I let him from now on? or do I teach the importance of following the rules and the difference between winning and losing. I opted for the a life lesson in reality. I told him that he won't always win. He doesn't have to like losing, but he must try and be a good sport about it. Through the crying, I kept on explaining about how at the end of the his T-ball game yesterday, his team lined up with their right hands up in the air in order to shake the other team's hands and say "Good game!". There is a loser and a winner, but no one cried about it.

I thought he tuned me out, but after 20 minutes when he quieted down, he asked to play again. As if I didn't just have a dissertation on good sportsmanship, he went on to explain to me and Daddy that we shouldn't cry if we lose.