Skip to main content

Learning to Lose

Want to Play UNO?!
I wouldn't consider myself a very competitive person, but after years of playing games against my sisters, and trying to beat them senseless, it's hard to NOT want to win, even against my own little girl.

The summer before freshman year, my big sister Carol and I played card games until the wee hours of the night, perfecting our strategy and our shuffling techniques. Spoons, Speed, Uno, La Ronda, Gin, Gin Rummy -- we played them all. And winning was a BIG deal. But we wouldn't brag. We were good sports. We'd win, quietly celebrate (it was past our bedtimes) and choose a new game. Since, it's just ingrained in my brain to scheme, plan ahead, set myself up to win at these games.

So you can imagine now playing with my emerging little opponent, a 7-year-old who lacks the skills but gets upset when Mom beats her, is not an easy transition. I've found that I have to reprogram myself to lose. Or, and this is more difficult, set her up to win (without it being so obvious). I mean, I am teaching her how to play, right? That should include how to kick butt!

Yes, I'm learning to be a better loser. Just don't tell my sister! 

Update: After a recent conversation with Carol, it seems it was the summer before SHE started freshman year. This seems more accurate as she was "too cool for me" once she was a high schooler, and stopped hanging out with me. *sniffle*
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Family Room: The Accent Wall

Wall: Before Ever since I started to think about decorating this house -- way back in October -- I knew I wanted to do a dramatic accent wall in the family room. The room is huge with two-story ceilings. There are six windows on one wall and four more flanking the fireplace -- so this room could definitely handle a dark, rich color. A few design magazine, sites and HGTV shows later, navy blue stuck in my head. Like one design show I watch advocates, look to the clothes you wear often to help decide color -- which for me and Dave is denim. And we both have soft navy sweatshirts that are common weekend wear. Navy it was -- decided in December. So, each night since we moved in while watching TV I'd stare at the beige wall, that is slightly inset, and imagine it was navy blue. And I'd itch and wish to paint it. Now, with the new media cabinet arriving on Friday, it's finally time! Once we moved out the furniture pieces we no longer will need, we reoriented everything ...
Post a Comment
Keep reading »

Top 5 Spots in Tenerife: La Ortava and Hotel Mencey

3. La Ortava A charming old town in the valley above Puerto de la Cruz. In my memory, it was green and lush, but in reality it's a small village populated by ancient buildings and nice locals. The Casa de los Balcones is a popular tourist spot to pick up local lace and your own little balcony. We walked up and down the hilly streets, and discovered two stunning public gardens and a nice coffee shop. We also watched fancy-dressed wedding guests entering an old church. The bride, I'm sorry to report, was very, very late. View Down a Twisty Street in La Ortava The Famous Tourist Trap - Casa de los Balcones  Jardin Victoria With Quite a View! 4. Hotel Mencey and Parque Garcia Sanabria In Santa Cruz, the small city we used as home base, we stretched our budget a little to stay at the historic Hotel Mencey. It was a comfortable, well-maintained hotel in a great location. I love a hotel will a lot of common spaces to relax in, and this one had a bunch, all with beaut...
Post a Comment
Keep reading »

Thinking Spring...

Thinking Spring ... and testing out this new collage photo editor . These are from last Spring. I was taking pictures of where the daffodils were coming up (for next Spring) when this cherubic creature stepped into the garden.
1 comment
Keep reading »