Innocent by birth, Rotten with age!

When Navya first got bitten by the competition bug, I had no clue how to handle. it Her fascination with 'Coming First' in everything took me by surprise. It was something we had never discussed in the house, leave alone making her competitive to come first. But she wanted to come first in reaching the school bus stop, in finishing her meals, in racing back home from the bus stop and in playing with the neighbourhood kids in the evening. The only things she seemed to miss in this new excitement was finishing milk first. Nevertheless, a lot of tears and heartbreaks would ensue when she didn't reach the bus stop the first and some one else was already there. More cranky words when she came second while running back from the bus stop to home. Even more irritation when she wouldn't come first in the games her peer circle played in the evenings.

While I struggled to explain and handle the situation, I was beaten to the finish line by another 4 year old. Where my hours of cajoling and counselling didn't find a solution, it was Navya's best friend and our next door neighbour who found a solution. The always gentle Somil,  apparently didn't like how his friend cried each time he ran faster from their bus stop to our house. His first and obvious solution was 'slowing down'. They would both start running from the bus stop and then he would slow down in the middle so Navya overtakes him. That didn't help. My not so athletic delicate darling was quite a slow runner.

Somil innovated more. He combined his slowing down with cheering for her. This became a combined cheering session where all the parents and kids would cheer aloud for Navya to run faster. That worked for a few days but even this model couldn't be sustained for too long. Then one day, as these kids got off the bus and handed over their bags to their respective moms, I saw Somil stretch his hand out to Navya. Navya held it and Somil said, 'Lets go, Navya.' The two kids ran holding hands till the house. Lots of smiles, high fives and excitement. I almost chocked at what Somil had done. I had to hide my emotions at what that little man had done for his friend. Upon reaching home, Somil declared, " Navya First!" to this Navya reverted, "Nahi, Somil, HUM First!"

2 weeks of confusion solved in a moment by a 4 year old. Now they run holding hands everyday back home and I couldn't contain myself from asking Somil why he did this. "I cannot see her crying. If coming first is what she wants, then we both can come first like this." Innocence leading to such Innovation! Kudos to these kids who teach us a lesson or two in life each day.

Teary Eyed
R