I had a friend over for my birthday last week. She usually comes over on Thursday afternoons, and last Thursday just happened to be my birthday, so we didn’t change anything. I love this friend dearly, but she can be quite intimidating, so I kowtow to her whenever she visits, just to keep the peace. Once, when she came over to color with me, she told me my crayons weren’t very good. I have to admit she was right. I only had eight of them, and they were the washable kind, so the colors weren’t very vibrant. So I bought a box of 48 Crayola crayons for her next visit. As we were coloring, I watched for any sign that these new crayons were acceptable. Finally, when no such sign was forthcoming, I said, “Did you notice I bought new crayons?” She nodded, but didn’t say a word. “I bought the box of 48 this time,” I continued. Without looking up from her coloring, she replied, “My grandma bought the box of 64.”
Thursday she brought over the card game “Go Fish,” and when she started to lose, she informed me that the first round was only a practice round so that I could get used to the rules. I took that to mean her rules. I learned quickly, and in the next round, I held my matching cards until she had set all her matching “books” down and was out of cards, thereby winning the game. I started to congratulate her, but she beat me to it.
Now don’t give me that nonsense that adults should not let children win because children need to learn that losing is part of life. Children get plenty of opportunities to experience losing. Besides, let their parents teach them that. Grandparents and sudo-grandparents should have the pleasure of seeing little faces light up with joy when they win. Besides, if you have a friend like my little four-year-old one, you’d be a fool to play to win.
Coming East 
Such a sweet post! Your friend sounds like a good one. And I agree–why force kids to experience losing before they need to?
Karen
Since I don’t have any children or grandchildren close by, After, this little one is awfully nice to have around.
4 years old has got to be the most entertaining age on the planet! They will make you smile every single time without even trying. Thanks for sharing this wonderful encounter, I needed this smile today.
Yes, 4-year-olds are a hoot, LWTTD. They are old enough to have a good conversation with, and yet they aren’t afraid to show you all your flaws. I love it when she comes to visit.
Yes, LWTTD, 4-year-olds make great little friends.
You echo my thoughts exactly on letting children win. Good for you. I hope it’s a long time before your little friend has to deal with the realty of losing. 🙂
It will be a long time at my house at least, E.C. She has a sister who is two years older, and you can bet your boots her big sister doesn’t let her win.
In Shanghai, we have HUGE boxes of crayons, like over 100, the made-in-China kind, you know. Maybe next time I’ll get you a box so that you can impress your little friend?
I agree that children need to learn losing is part of life. Guess he didn’t take that too well.
I don’t know how she would take losing, Jiawei. I’m afraid to,find out!
I played checkers with my nine year old grandson a few weeks ago, and he was so confident he was going to win (he usually does)….I cleaned his clock for the first time ever. He immediately went and asked his grandfather to play, and left me sitting by myself. I’ll ask him to color with me next time he comes over.
LOL, Angeline. Hey, by nine years old, they need a dose of reality. Did he beat grandpa?
You know you did have me going for awhile, though, because I do have an adult “friend” who acts like that too! LOL
Not at all attractive in an adult, Life! I wouldn’t share my crayons with her, if I were you.
Oh, my, I almost hurt myself laughing as I read the comments. If the three of us have to share, you’d sure better get the box of 128! I don’t have to try to lose in games with the grandkids. They are a competitive bunch!
And you have so many to lose to, Patti!
I remember the cute picture of her you posted last year. 🙂
And she gets cuter all the time, Amy.
Our grand kids young to old thrive on our constant praises, that they are getting taller and smarter. They beat me at every thing already. I’ve been left behind a long time ago! Seems like it wasn’t that long ago when I played ‘Donkey’ with them. It’s like ‘Go Fish’ but the loser must say “hee haw” Play that one with your little friend!
I’d be braying all over the place, Shofar!
wonderful post! Next time spring for the largest box of crayons…. blow her mind!
DAF
I’m sure she would tell me her grandmother has better coloring books, DAF.
I’ve got a tin full of crayolas, including the “retired” colors. Plus a box of the FAT 16. I love to color, with or without the grandkids.
What do you color, Adela? On paper or coloring books? I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.
I play to win with my girls and still lose! What does that say about me?
You really want me to tell you, Al?
This reminds me of when my son was four and he always beat me at checkers (even sometimes when I tried). We met one of my old college friends for lunch one day (she was a high-powered attorney, me a stayhome writer/mom), and he turned to her and said: “My mom’s not very smart, I can beat her at checkers.” She pulled me aside after lunch and expressed her concern that my son would grow up not realizing how smart I was. I had to laugh… I mean anyone with kids knows that’s going to happen anyway 😉
She must not have had any kids of her own, Julia. Yeah, our kids know we’re brilliant—-now that they’re grown.
For a minute I was wondering why you call that person a friend. Now I get it. Four year olds can be a challenge and they do make their own rules.
It’s good to have four-year-olds as friends. They may be feisty, but they are loyal.
Happy Birthday and what a nice visit. My husband never let my sons win when he was teaching them chess, about 4 years old at the time. Within a year, they could sometimes beat him and one son took lessons and competed for a few years. It’s a tough call whether to let them win… I’m sure I’d want them to win!
Thanks, Cycling Mama. I think it’s different with parents. As a parent, I wasn’t as quick to let my children win, but as a grandparent, I loved letting my granddaughters win. My husband also didn’t let our boys win, or at least not very often, when he was teaching them chess. But that is a game of skill, not chance, so I think kids only get better if they play with someone who isn’t an easy mark. Then, when they finally win, it means something.
I played Uno! with my kids yesterday and wouldn’t you know it but my daughter won nearly every time!
With a little help from Mama, Darla?
I’ve been known to hide cards. I have a great poker face.
What we mothers do! I can’t wait to see if my brother will be the same way, Darla. He’s very competitive, and he’s expecting his first grandchild in a few weeks. I have a feeling it won’t take him long to learn to play to lose, and he will love doing it as much as we do.
Congrats to him! That is exciting. I have to say I can’t wait to be a grandma but I have a ways to wait. sigh.
Be glad that you are still too young, Darla!
I agree: you had me going! I always wanted one of those huge boxes of Crayola crayons….maybe I’ll go buy myself one now. Not sure what I’d do with them, though – other than look at them! Perhaps you, Patti & I could color at our next get-together! (I promise I’d let you win…!)
Thanks, Dianna. I need to win once in awhile. I know—I love looking at all the Crayola colors and I even like the way they smell. They have a lot of new names now, but I still remember my cornflower blue and burnt sienna of my youth. Maybe I’ll buy the three of us coloring books and we can sit at Barnes and Noble and color. Do you want a princess coloring book, or are you more into Barbie? LOL
I love it! You can never have enough colours. 🙂
Next time, I’m going to buy the box of 128, Eye. Let’s see her grandma beat that!
Wow, can you really get that many?! I’m coming over to play then! 😉
Actually, I looked it up, Eye, and the biggest pack is 120, but that should shut her up.
haha been there done that….
Glad we are like-minded, Life.
oh you had me going there…love the way you write lol
Thanks, Smile. Do you know how hard it is to cheat at Go Fish?
LOL yep…snakes and ladders is a big one at my house 🙂
You know my pain, Smile.