Races

I love races. More specifically, I love to be in them. I like to race others. This does not mean running, necessarily. I haven't had a run race in EONS, but I do love them still. And the race can take any form. Racing to see who can finish something first, who can do this the farthest or highest, etc. Or to even be timed. It's a good way to get me to do something. Just like when you're small and you'd get suckered by adults: "Jen will you _______?" "Meh.. i don't wanna." "c'mon, i'll race you." *trail of dust* And I'm off. It still works for me, for the most part.

This is how i get kids to do something these days. One time I timed a kid in church to see how fast he could put on his shoes which he just did not want to do. "C'mon, I'll time you." He was OFF, vigorously struggling to put on his shoes and socks. At one point he looked at me with alarm in his eyes and whimpered, frustrated in his urgency that his sock was stuck on his foot and couldn't slide it on right away. I said, looking at my watch, "It's ok, don't give up! You still have time!" Ha ha. Time for what? ha ha. So he kept at it. His little friend was watching him and she got sucked into it too. "Hurry, Jake!"* she said, totally concerned and jumping in her place. Oh man, i love it. In the end I think I said, "hurry... 5 seconds leeeft...OH, you MADE it! Barely!"

I did it again a couple Sundays later. Two little girls didn't want to put on their shoes so another teacher and I each took a kid and we said, "Ok, let's race! Ready, get set, go!" And we started tying their shoes for them. The girl I was helping started to get upset because somehow her shoe laces had come out of the holes--(what? how?) And she was frustrated. "No, it's ok. I'm fast!" I said. And i threaded them through. Meanwhile the other girl's teacher/racer was struggling with the buckle. Then, without conferring with each other, we both kept an eye on the other's shoe and made sure we finished at the exact same time. "TIE!" we yelled, and the girls were so happy to tie and be the same.

This post is completely random and all over the place. But I like to race. If I race you, I'll try to win. But i won't be too sad if i don't. I also love using it to get kids to do something. Cracks me up.



*not his real name