I have no idea what freakin' hornet's nest that I am about to walk into...

It is 6:40 in the morning and I go into Laurel's room to get her up for the day.  This isn't a good sign..usually she is already up.  Laurel has never been a sleeper--it's like she is afraid that she is going to miss something while she is asleep.  I have no idea what freakin' hornet's nest that I am about to walk into.

"I don't want to go to school today"
(crap..no, no, no...Laurel has no idea that I am now eating out of the palm of her hand.  We need to be ready to go at 7:30, 7:30...remain calm.)

"We are going to play that blastoff game again today..you know, when the person who gets to the number of 100, wins? They gets to wear a crown"
(I have no idea how this game works.  But focus on the crown, get a away from the game..focus on the crown!)

"Laurel, I thought we were going to make a crown together this weekend."

"But I want to win too.  There are only three days left so only three more kids can win and I get jealous when I don't win."
(Jesus, Laurel..you are killing me!  I am scrambling to find favorite shirts and pants trying to entice her to a better mood, c'mon better mood!)

You know I blame those freakin' Y programs that makes sure that every kid is a winner, no scores are kept and everyone comes home with a trophy.  That is absolute and utter bullshit.  This is not realistic and the longer you avoid the winner vs. loser scenario, the harder it is to explain.  Especially since it is now 6:46..and we only have 44 minutes to go...tick, tick, tick. How do you tell your child that they are not going to win every single time without making them not want to try or feel like the perennial loser?  I don't know how to convince an almost six year old that if she is afraid of losing, she won't take risks, therefore no big payoff.

"Laurel..if I could make it so you would always win, I would because you are my best almost six year old girl.  But if I did that, winning would become boring.  Please try today.  Do your best and whatever happens, I will always think you're a winner (flashback..I think my mom said this in '78? Maybe I just saw it on a t-shirt). If you don't win, please be happy for the friend that does."

"I don't know..."

(Please let what I said make her feel better...distractions, I need a distraction.  Are there clubs today?  Today is Wednesday..it's library day?  Where is Paul when I need him (1/12)..remain calm..it's 6:48..)

Ching comes in the room.  I have no idea if he knows the conversation that Laurel and I are currently having.  "Would you like me to give you a piggyback ride downstairs?"

"Yeah!"
(Really?  Awesome..freakin' winners all around...)