Youngest son had non-competitive sports day at school today. Like a good mother I am I hobbled along to watch him. 
Non competitive sports day is just following your child around while he attempts various activities and gets marks on how well he has done which are added up and put towards the total for your house team. At the end of the academic year you then find out which house has won - and it is supposed to be non competitive? 
I don't really agree with this idea at all. My children have been told that there are winners and losers, that you can be good at some things and bad at others but it doesn't mean you are stupid, or silly in anyway. The world is competitive and if a child learns that at an early age then they get on in life.
Personally I hated sports day, not because I came last on a regular basis, but because I hate sports. The only one I was ever interested in was netball and I loved swimming. Running never interested me, long jump was more of a short hop for me and I have very little balance and co-ordination so really I was not the 'sporty' type. I am not all that competitive either, unless one of my children sulk because they are losing and I am winning at a board game, in which case I make damm sure I win - I can't bear sulking. 
Tomorrow is competitive sports day for youngest child. His school do both so that all the children experience both - at least they haven't banned the competitive one altogether like some schools in our area have. He isn't sure what races he is in yet, but my money is on the dressing up one as he has done it for the past 2 years and fallen over everytime! He cannot run very fast, so they will put him in one of the races and he has very little balance like me so definately the sack race. He is good at jumping, he is good at balancing the egg on the spoon, he is good the bean bag race , but hasn't been doing any of these since he came first in every one and upset little johnny (psuedonym)in the 4+ unit. 
He isn't too bothered though, he knows why, he worked that much out for himself while little Johnny still gets to take part in the races he 'thinks' he is good at.
Do I sound bitter? To be honest I really couldn't care less. It all seems like a total waste of time to me nowadays, and lets face it, it is just a bit of fun for the kids to do as they wind down for the holidays - the same for us really when we were coming up to the school holidays when we were at their age. The only difference is that it is all political now - be careful who you pick for what race and make sure that you are aware who really did win otherwise someone will get upset, either child or their parent. Oh and yes there were major arguments last year as one child was pipped to the post yet his father was adamant that his child won and why didn't the woman give him a rosette for being first. Felt like shouting at him because he was second you pratt!!, but I controlled myself and laughed at him instead
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As for me I will do the adoring mother act, sit there with the other mums and watch on, wave occasionally and catch up with the gossip. No mums race for me this year, due to my bad leg, someone else will have to come last this year instead!
