Stage Moms

I took our school champion to the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee last week and saw something appalling. One of the mothers of the contestants actually had the poster of the 69 kids in the contest and as each student got eliminated she would scratch out their face on the poster. If this weren't bad enough, she was sitting in the front row in full view of the parents of other students. No one said anything to her, but I wanted to take her outside for a little "talk". I don't know why I'm writing about this, but it's been on my mind for days. Isn't there a better way to support our kids. I wonder how her poor daughter felt after getting eliminated. I didn't look to see if she crossed her own child off the list, I think I just put my head down in fear she would do something aweful to her. It should be noted though, that apples really don't fall far from trees. After exiting the stage and getting her participatory ribbon, her daughter promptly and quite rudely took it off her neck in defiance for losing. Hmmmm.... Lord, make me a better parent and help me to never teach my children that the prize is always only extrinsic.