Mom - As far as we have been told the age is 12 now or at least in our stake. I didn't even know about it, actually would tune out the trek talk during bishopric meetings, until the young women's leadership came to us and said, hey Mason's birthday is the week of the Trek or something close and we are planning on her going so we would like her to start attending the planning meetings to be prepared. So we are going off of that fact that they told us she should be going. I will find out this Sunday to confirm though.
Jeff- I have thought a lot about your question about Cru's competitiveness. I do not see a problem with it. We were competitive as kids, and I think that kind of competitive nature equals drive when they learn to harness it. Think of it like a poisonous snake, the babies are the most dangerous because they cannot control their venom, where as the adult snakes have learned and are less likely to just bite down and never letting go. I have the exact opposite problem you have, my kids have zero competitiveness or drive to win, thus they would rather not even compete. Although this past week I am seeing sparks of it in Connley. My kids struggled in soccer because they just didn't care. They weren't aggressive and when it came to sticking with it they didn't want to keep playing because they were indifferent too winning, losing, or even competition. Of course Cru will need to learn to lose and win with grace, but that comes with time more than being forced or told. Right now his natural instinct is to get mad or cry and that is an emotion that swells within him and at his age is very difficult to hold back. I think keep teaching the lessons and talking about it, but don't get too upset with him. I was always second or third fiddle in our family, I hated losing, but as I grew I have learned to harness those emotions. Now I have the drive when it matters, but more importantly am able to better discern what does and does not matter. As a kid though it was very hard to control, especially since my brothers were always winning, putting more pressure on me. Speaking of which, I loved the pine wood derby. I took third every year, first when it was David and I, he took first and I got third and best of show. The next year, I took third again, and Jeff won first. Sure I was disappointed, but I was always in the mix, and if I am going to lose I both hate and love that I lost to my brothers. Today, Pine Wood Derby memories are some of my favorite. I just don't think at a young age kids should be expected to control their emotions 100%, no matter how frustrating it is as parents to have them throw fits. Just be happy he cares, because later in life that personality is more successful, I think.
I say all of this because it is easier to do so from the outside looking in. If I could figure out how to keep Mason from going to school crying just about every morning then that would be a miracle. Picking out an outfit takes the entire morning, and many tears are shed. She is not a morning person, and even more difficult she is VERY particular about what she wears. She pretty much wears the same 5-6 outfits every week, because the rest of her clothes "feel funny". Oh kids, such joys and such worries all at once. I cannot wait for the teen years! Lately, I feel like my kids are becoming spoiled as well. I don't feel they are spoiled because of all the things we buy them, because we don't do that too much, but they are work adverse and take so many things for granted. When I ask them to wash 10 dishes you would think I asked them to build a new addition on the house. Ten measly dishes are so difficult! And if I say you have to do your chores before....watching TV, playing with friends, or using the computer...WHAT?! How could I be so mean. I have allowed my kids to become lazy with so many things like making their beds every morning, and they have so few chores that I think they are becoming spoiled from lack of work. It is sad, and we are trying to make changes. I am sure every generation thinks their kids are a little more spoiled than the last, but there are things that should not be so difficult, such as washing dishes, making beds, picking up after yourself, cleaning your room, and on and on. I need a bigger house, just so I can make them do more chores. I need a hundred trees so they have to rake leaves all year, or a bigger yard so they have to mow for a few hours a day, or more bathrooms and rooms in general so Saturday morning chores go into the afternoon as well. I hated it as a kid, but value it now as an adult. Thank you Mom for making me learn to work! Now if only I can pass that on to my spoiled, precious babies. Haha!
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