Is Everyone a Winner...Seriously?!

I was talking to my sister in law several weeks ago about our children. We were discussing sports, imagine that! I asked how my nephew was doing in soccer. She informed me that the leagues they were in didn't keep score. I was taken a back by the statement. "How do you tell who wins? How do you tell who loses?", I ask. She replied, "We don't." They live several states away. I found the concept to be interesting to say the least. No losers...no winners. 


Here where we live every sport has winners and losers. We even kept score at t-ball games, granted it wasn't on a huge scoreboard for all to see, but when my son ran into home base he definitely wanted to know he put a run on the books. 


This got me to pondering quite a few things. The main one that runs into my mind is what are we teaching our children? Are we teaching them that everyone is a winner? Unless I have walked into the twilight zone, life is full of winners and losers. It is a hard, true fact of life. You win some, you lose some. More importantly, if you want to win you work. You work HARD. You put in the effort, the time, the blood, sweat and tears to become a winner no matter what you are doing. My daughter does it every night she walks into the gym to cheer or tumble. Both of my kids make me laugh on a daily basis....but when they say, "Hey mom, look at the sweat!" I know there is a deeper meaning to that. They want me to know they gave it their best. I am proud to say their attitude flows over into school, home and most things that they do. Are they perfect? Of course not! If they were I wouldn't be rushing to clean up my son's room before the window repair man gets her to replace the window he knocked out with a baseball! 


When I send my children out into the world, will they automatically be put on the Dean's List in college? When they go for their first job, will they receive a check if they choose not to do the work? Will they ever get a promotion if they just "kind of" try? I don't think so. As a parent it is my job to prepare my kids for LIFE. Life is not easy at times, actually with all the responsibilities it can be downright hard. Sometimes, it isn't even fair...yet another concept that sports has taught them. I want them to know that. 


If we are teaching our children that everyone is a winner.........what are we really teaching them? 


As always....just my opinion! 


Lisa