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AIBU?

To be VERY proud of my ds? Loads of people are laughing ...

71 replies

clumsymum · 28/09/2007 14:57

Yesterday, ds (aged 8) took part in our county inter-schools cross country running competion.
Now ds isn't an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but he wanted to do it, and wanted to represent his school. This is a HUGE issue for me, as in the last academic year his behaviour at school was pretty rocky, and I was worrying that he was going off it all together.

But he went to the competition after school, and finished the run. He came 104th, out of 105 who finished.

Everyone except my mum, and ds's head teacher, thinks it's funny he came next to last.
I think it's terrific that he even wanted to do it, and wonderful that he actually finished.

I'm quite cross with everyone

OP posts:

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dustystar · 28/09/2007 14:59

How does he feel about it? If he's happy then don't let the others worry you.

thelittleElf · 28/09/2007 14:59

Well done to your son, thats an amazing achievement for him . Heck when we did cross country running at school, we'd hide round the corner and just have a fag

fluffyanimal · 28/09/2007 14:59

Good on your ds. I hated cross country runs with a passion. ignore the scoffers. Sounds like your mum is cool and your ds has a teacher on his side.

beansprout · 28/09/2007 15:00

Good on him. And good for you for being proud. Stuff the rest of 'em.

barnstaple · 28/09/2007 15:00

So do I.

Well done!

SmartArse · 28/09/2007 15:00

I think he's a star. I was last for years and years at sports day at primary school, then in Year 6 I came second-to-last. How proud was I?! Bizarrely, I'm quite sporty now I'm all grown up.

AnguaVonUberwald · 28/09/2007 15:00

Clumsymum

Firstly, I agree, HUGE achievement.

Secondly - he was one of the ones that finished, how many didn't?

Threadworm · 28/09/2007 15:00

I think it is completely brilliant that he took part. Is he pleased with himself? I hope none of the sniggering has made him less proud of his achievment in representeing the school.
I worry that my ds 1 takes no part in these sorts of things and I would be so pleased if he did what your son has.
And think of the adult running sport -- all these half marathons and 10K and so on where the pride comes from doing it, and meeting your own targets, not ffrom winning

Baffy · 28/09/2007 15:01

Not funny at all. How unfair of people to knock his confidence when he has obviously done his best.

As long as he knows how proud you are of him doing his best that's all that matters.

And you have every right to be at anyone who dares laugh!

RosaLuxembourg · 28/09/2007 15:01

Clumsymum - my DD1 who is 10 is dyspraxic. She tries really hard but every year at sports day she comes last. This year she came third last. I am so much prouder of her for trying and doing her best than I could be of any champion athlete.
I say WELL DONE to your DS and shame on those who think his achievement is funny. Because it is an achievement.

flamingtoaster · 28/09/2007 15:01

Well done your ds! Ignore everybody else - you are right to be proud.

snowleopard · 28/09/2007 15:02

Aaaaah this is what's wrong with so much bloody sports teaching and what made me hate PE at school. Kids need exercise and to get into the habit of exercise so much, and yet they can get put off by the competitive aspect and being judged losers and laughed at. Schools should put far more emphasis on doing physical activity because it's fun and makes you feel good.

3 cheers for your DS!

Blu · 28/09/2007 15:03

I am SO pleased that the Head Teacher is proud of him and not laughing! I hope he knows that the Head is pleased with him.

Good for him. What a shoddy and shocking attitude - to laugh!

EmsMum · 28/09/2007 15:03

Look, someones got to come next to last. Someone else came last and some didn't even finish. Bet some of the people laughing wouldn't have been able to do it.

So well done that boy! And well done you, your mum and head teacher.

Lio · 28/09/2007 15:03

I would be so so proud of him. Sounds like the head has his/her head screwed on. Yah boo sucks to all the rest.

Oenophile · 28/09/2007 15:03

Well I think it's amazing, and what you must remember is, he didn't just beat one person, he also beat all the people who didn't finish, or who didn't dare take part - hundreds of them - for most kids or adults wouldn't be able to run that far at all.

Great big clap for ClumsyMinor!

clumsymum · 28/09/2007 15:03

DS seems quite pleased with himself. He says his "heart REALLY ached" near the end, but he had to keep going, and he didn't drop out like 2 other kids from his school.

My handyman nearly wet his pants laughing when I told him about it this lunchtime

OP posts:

Blandmum · 28/09/2007 15:05

There were 1000s of children who didn't take part. He whooped the arse off them!

Good on him!

TheQueenOfQuotes · 28/09/2007 15:05

well done your DS!!!

I remember cross country at school - I started when I was about 8/9yrs old - and almost always came near the back of the year (school PE lessons) at the finish. But by the time I was 11 I was consistently in the top 10. I don't run at all now .

My DB on the other hand used to bunk off from PE when it was cross country as he was terrible at it - he's now completed 7 marathons !

Blu · 28/09/2007 15:08

It's brilliant that he kept going in order to meet his own target of finishing, rather than giving up. I can completely see why this is such a celebratuion ofr you if you were a bit worried about him at school.

Not giving up is one of the most important qualities a child can have, imo. It will serve him very well.

bubblagirl · 28/09/2007 15:09

i came second from last when i was at school and every one found it quite amusing even i laugh now but at the time i felt embarrassed but tell everyone whatever they think he could of come last and he didn't and your vey proud and whatever they think keep it to themselves as its the taking part that counts not the winning

AnguaVonUberwald · 28/09/2007 15:12

Plus if we only do things that we can win or be the absolute best at, we will do very little in our lives.

Its a really big thing he did and its brilliant that you are so proud of him.

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heifer · 28/09/2007 15:18

nothing to laugh about in my book..

He started it, he finished it, and most importantly he enjoyed it..

Good for him...

wb · 28/09/2007 15:18

Maybe he'll grow up to be a great cross country runner, or maybe he won't. I think 8 is too young to know and, frankly, who cares. He took part, and he finished. He represented his school. I think that's a great reason to be proud.

Are kids only supposed to enter things they know they'll come first at now? What stupid people!

alicet · 28/09/2007 15:27

Good on him! Aren't we supposed to be teaching them that its the taking part that counts?!

He did one better than me - when I was 14 I ran cross country for the county and came last! Loads of people didn't finished though and I'd run my socks off so I was pleased with myself too. I think it says a lot about his character that he's pleased with himself and that also you're bringing him up with better values than all the tossers who are laughing at him.

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