Competition season starts again

Competition season starts again, after almost 6 months training due to long winter in Sweden. Watching all the eager children and parents, I cannot help to share my reflections related to culture and family.

1.?????Families in China or in Sweden behave almost the same when coming to children's competition. In China, many parents stay late night to help their children's homework, because they hope children can be in the top list (ranking system in school). In Sweden, a lot of parents run with their children during competition (when it is allowed) and burst with tears when seeing children at the top ranks.

2.?????Hard training can be paid off. Parents sometime just need to be determined and “cold blooded”. My daughter has complained to me many times that she was only 8 years old but she was the only one cycle to school during winter. Sometimes she falls on ice, pedals extremely hard on heavy snow, but I insists she does the 10km daily commuting with bike by encouraging her that she will benefit a lot physically and mentally. She told me once:” On the way to school, I felt down from my bike because the chain has broken. It was hurt, but I told myself I am a strong girl and I can walk with my bike to the school.”?

3.?????Fair play works during this age. Today was teams’ competition. Each team can mix boys and girls who are born at the same year. Her team allocated 2 girls and 4 boys to run the total 3350 meters replay. During her 600 meters with 150 meters uphill, she competed against another 3 girls and 10 boys. She started late but took the 1st place at the end. ?When she gets older, I hope she will be not discouraged by a lot of unfair play and inequality in our society.