Empathy

I don't know if I need to blame myself for this or think that it's just part of the process. Veer is now four and a half and cannot take a defeat in a game. I am sure he will learn it one day. But as a father, I would like him to learn this art of having a sportsman spirit in everything in life.

I was playing hockey with him at home today. I allowed him to score two goals and acted to display my disappointment on each goal he scored. Then, by mistake, I scored a goal. His reaction - threw away the plastic hockey, went to the bedroom and closed the door. I knew he would come back after some time and that happened. We played again. This time, I was even more cautious and making sure I didn't score a goal. I let him score a goal. While he was celebrating, I threw my hockey and went to the bed room and smashed the door.

After sometimes, he came inside, gave me a cricket bat, and said, "papa, you play with this. It will be easy for you to score a goal with the bat." He was ready to be defeated to see me happy.

I don't know whether he has started to learn to accept defeat, but I am sure he has started to have empathy. I am happy and feel proud for the same.