One of the many interesting things about being a parent with young kids is you notice how social norms have changed since you were at school in knee shorts (well, polyester trousers).
And the one factor that has jumped out at me above all others is that competition is not encouraged as it used to be. Some sports days have no winners, but prizes for all. There may be badges or medals for good work in the classroom, but they seem to be handed out liberally. It seems no child is made to feel like they’ve achieved above and beyond their peers lest the others feel dejected.
Competitiveness is not exactly frowned upon, but it does seem to have been dampened down and neatly put to one side.
So it was a tad ironic this morning – and personally highly pleasing – to see that the parents are as competitive as ever, elbows out and all. This is absolutely not an ode to pushy parenting, but a Christmas tale of how the spirit of competition came back, with a vengeance.
I went to my daughter’s infant nativity performance. Rumours had been circling amongst frequent school-runners for days about how parents outnumbered chairs in the school hall. Like military preparation for January sales, I set out early, confident of bagging a slot at the head of the queue so I could forge my may to the best seats (any seats) once the doors were opened.
And I was not alone. In the frenzy that ensued, the competitiveness of the parents was admirable. Body language, circling the prey before pouncing, diversion tactics, all and more were employed by the surging throng as strategy, rather than a cast of elves and reindeer, took centre stage.
Of course there were winners and losers. There were no prizes merely for taking part. Equally, it was a game played fairly and sportingly, and no serious injuries were reported.
And we all lived happily ever after.
Given that today’s schoolchildren may be entering the workplace during the next decade, the competitive streaks shown by parents – not least in getting them a school place in the first place – bodes well if they’re to learn from their elders. But if the prizes-for-all mentality is carried through schooling and into job interviews, there are going to be some very disappointed people around. The jobs market is a tough one, competition in business is ever-increasing, and employers need employees who are driven to achieve. That’s life, deal with it.
Meanwhile, in other Christmas news, my daughter recently announced that she had “won at prayers” at school that day. That’s the spirit.
