It’s safe to say that I have a competitive streak. Maybe that’s a little mild, but let’s just leave it at that. I used to get so fired up about winning no matter what we were playing. I lived and died on the final score of the baseball game. Board games? Cutthroat. Capture the flag? Brutal. For years I tried to squelch the stench. It got so bad (my attitude, that is) that I decided to give up the games altogether. If I couldn’t play and have fun no matter who won, I would just watch.
Then Kim discovered Settlers of Catan. More like Settlers of Satan.
I discovered that my bad attitude has a great memory. Kim loves that game, though, and we played it for years with friends. Eventually I opted out, preferring to DJ some music and play host while the others played the game.
Then Kim taught our kids to play. And I got roped back in to playing. And my bad attitude experienced a resurrection.
At first I tried to play it off, acting like I was only kidding about getting mad. I don’t think anyone was fooled. It might have been the way that I threw my cards, or perhaps the manner in which I flicked a game piece off the board. Yep. I did that.
So tonight a couple of our girls decided to play a fun game of spoons. At the crux of the game, they both grabbed a spoon. One snatched it away from the other, prompting a series of
“You can’t do that!”
“Yes I can, I just did it!”
“You’re a sore loser!”
“You can’t call me a loser!”
They both went to bed mad. Not good at all. The apple doesn’t fall far from the stupid dad tree. Sounds like I’ve got some work to do with the girls…and with my heart.
5 Comments
amanda · February 21, 2012 at 6:48 am
I find that usually when I am the most frustrated with my daughter… is when she is acting exactly like her mother… very humbling to see your own nasty heart in the likes of your children.
We all need to work on our hearts, our example, and our guildance of our children… I will pray for you as you do me…. hugs, Stac!
stacy · February 21, 2012 at 1:10 pm
You got it Amanda…thanks!
Marc P · February 21, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I appreciate your honesty in admitting something that you struggle with. Yes, I find each of my faults echoed in at least one of my kids, even the faults that I have “conquered” through God’s strength. But I grieve most over the faults that the children have learned from me rather than inherited from me.
stacy · March 1, 2012 at 10:17 pm
I hear you, Marc. I guess our hope is that the transformation that we experience will also be observed, appreciated, and adopted by our kids. That’s what I’m counting on, anyway.
Amy · February 21, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I am so the same way. I try very hard not to be competitive, but i fail almost every time. This year at Thanksgiving at my brother’s house i threw my phase 10 cards in a fit of rage.