Children will listen

Last week AJ sent a sign-up around her class for an art contest she was having. She told everyone that they needed to have their entries in by a certain day and that she would judge them and award prizes. She got around 10 entries including one from her teacher. She showed me all of the pictures she had received and which ones were getting prizes. She was giving prizes for all entries but 2. So I suggested that it might be a better idea to either give everyone a prize or only give prizes for 1st-3rd so that feelings wouldn't be hurt. She said, "but Mom, these two just aren't very good." When I said that might be true, but that I didn't think she would like people to get their feelings hurt she said, "mom, that's life. Not everyone gets a prize. Sometimes you have to find out that you're not very good at something so you can work on what you are good at." Hmmm, that sounded kind of familiar. I guess my kids do listen to me, just not always when or how I want them to. . .