My daughter: a real winner

I used to think there were only two types of people. The ones who always want to win at any price. And the others who prefer to listen to the birds singing in the park.

It seemed impossible to combine both, so I decided against professional recognition summits and considerable diaper ropeways. I'm just more of the type of bird song that now and then comes in dog pile, because his thoughts often go to the clouds on the go instead of staying on the ground.

Of course, that sometimes stinks of me never bringing medals and trophies home, just dirty shoes, but I accept that as my nature and fate.
However, it is difficult for me to accept that our big threatens to become the exact type of counter. With her the competition is always in the foreground and she always wants to be the winner.

Already as a two-year-old she said to the children in the park: "Follow me, I'm the leader." In kindergarten, she grabs the last piece of cake before the boys. And on playgrounds, she usually climbs the crown of the jungle gym in front of everyone else, then grins triumphantly from above. Haha, first!

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Never win

Lately, she is also demanding her family to duel. "Come on Mom, who makes up the lips pretty first."
"Come on sister, who brushes his teeth faster."
"Come on Dad, who's faster in the park."

While my wife and the kid refuse the duel routinely, because they know that it takes care of make-up and brushing not on speed, but on care, I usually agree and face the challenge. My urge not to compete with others is simply less pronounced than the desire to make my big happy.

And so I race with her - in the park, to the car or before the next ice cream parlor. As a old man - admittedly, with overweight and well-being belly, but also with longer legs and more stamina than a five-year-old child - I usually win. And because I never win anything else, of course, I immediately enjoy the proud sweetness of triumph with a broad winning smile.

So long, until my little big girl pouting says: "Hey, that's unfair, I always win."

The new Formula 1 tactic

I smile at the verbal contradiction and then say, "But honey, you do not always have to win in life."
Whereupon she says, "Yes, me. And now stop, so I can overtake you. "

Shortly I feel the urge to explain to her that in the way she will never make a great career in Formula 1.
After all, she can hardly speak in the pit radio after the start of the race: "Lewis, Sebastian, that's unfair, I've got a pebble in my shoe. Wait for me before the next turn so I can overtake you. "

However, because she does not know about Formula 1 and she does not get stupid thoughts on her ambition, I stop and let her win.

Later, I ask her why she always wants to win, and she answers succinctly:
"Because I enjoy it."

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Real champs chill too

That's how the last few months went every day. Until yesterday. Then we made another race, more specifically a swimming competition - to the jumping island in the lake. And once again I won first. But quite right, this time did not want to set a winning smile, because this time my Great did not sulk.

I touched her forehead to see if she had a fever.
"What's the matter, my darling? Should not I stop for you to win? "I asked.
"Oh daddy, you do not understand anything, right? Winning is not everything in life, "she said, tanning from the sun on her back.

I felt very sad about the heart. Was it perhaps my fault that my ambitious daughter would become a cuckold in the air? Like me?

Oh no. A short time later she called me back to the duel - who is first with mom and sister - and I realized: my theory with the victor and bird noise types is utter nonsense. We all combine both in us. Let's win and let the sun shine on us on the park bench. The important thing is that we do not take both too seriously and never lose the fun of it.