Competition

Where do kids learn to be competitive? In the classroom? At summer camp or on a soccer field? Nope, they truly learn to compete in the back seat of a station wagon.

Well, at least they used to. I recently read something about how the advent of technology is decreasing fighting among kids in cars. The little ones plug into phones or Ipads and just entertain themselves. This was presented as a good thing, which of course it isn’t. It’s a tragedy that’s slowly but surely sucking away the competitive spirit our kids need to “win the future.”

When I was a kid our family took a long road trip to somewhere. Mom and Dad sat up front and I sat in back squeezed between my sisters. At one point a struggle ensued. We competed vigorously for control of my teddy bear, a fuzzy black-and-white thing whose arms had been sewn back onto its body after similar battles over the coveted prize.

My sister yanked the teddy bear from my hands. And then lost her grip. The bear flew out the window. I screamed, commanding my dad to turn around. But we were on a rural interstate where exits were miles apart. So Dad drove on, no doubt pondering the fact that we were only a short distance into the trip, both geographically and emotionally.

When the bear hit the pavement, it probably said “Thank God that’s over.”

But kids today don’t get this station wagon training. Which is a tragedy. Because battling to land a leadership position at something like a soft-drink conglomerate is really no different than fighting your sister over a stuffed animal.

And there’s a reason they call those talks by thought-leaders the TED talks. These are the people who won those teddy bear fights in their youth.

So enjoy that peace and quiet on your next road trip. Just smile and enjoy the scenery while you pretend that your kids aren’t falling behind. You might as well just put a yellow, diamond-shaped sticker on the trunk that says “Uncompetitve Kids On Board!”