Pages

Monday, August 27, 2007

Limits

When I was kid, about 3-6 years old, I was so eager to join different contests -- from quiz bee, to declamation contest, and even beauty contests (plural dahil marami :P). There was even a time that I wanted to join a 'drawing contest even if I wasn't skilled. Of course, my parents convinced me not to join for the simple reason that I don't have that talent.

Similarly, a cousin (almost of the same age) also loved joining different contests. There was one time that she was very much eager to join a singing contest but she couldn't simply sing. Heck, she ended up singing "Butsiki"in a sectoral meet. Of course, later on she realized that singing is not her thing and she discovered her real talents.

This afternoon, I was talking to my 5 year-old niece. She's asking me to listen to her song because she's joining a singing contest tomorrow. So I did. Man, she can sing but it's not good enough for her to join a singing contest. Then I also found out that she's going to join a declamation contest, dance contest, and even a search for little Mr. &Ms.

The question is, how do you tell a child that she should not join the contest because she doesn't qualify (just like what my parents did)? Is it something they will learn along the way (like my cousin's experience), meaning if they felt somehow embarrassed?

4 comments:

missingpoints said...

Do the parents really think the child is unqualified? Or are they just as delusional? :)

It's a difficult situation. On one hand you want to encourage the kid; on the other you want to spare her the humiliation. But unless the audience is really mean, the humiliation will go over her head.

alwaysanxious said...

Delusional parents. :) They were busy looking for minus-one yesterday.

It's really a difficult situation. I don't want to offend the kid but I know it's not apt for her to join. I just told her, "inuubo ka, huwag ka na lang sumali." But I'm not sure if that's a goodway either.

missingpoints said...

Bayaan mo na lang mapahiya :)

alwaysanxious said...

Hehe, oo, hindi ko naman anak iyon eh :)