So here's the dilemma, a while ago my son and I were joking about who could run the fastest and we are both convinced we could beat the other in a race over 100m. I was pregnant at the time so we set a date for a race on his 8th birthday which was nearly five months post birth.
In the build up to this date there has been a lot of bravado and chat about how he'll eat my dust and vice versa, all in good jest, but more recently the banter has been getting very competitive. He wants there to be a trophy and has even cleared room on his bedside table for it to go (when he inevitably wins).
The trouble is, I'm also super competitive and would love nothing more than to beat him just to prove I can, but I'm also mindful that he might be hurt or embarrassed if I do win. He is definitely fast for his age and I would have to go full pelt to be in with a chance of winning. My other half has always said they think he will win, but then didn't allow us to race on his birthday in case I won and it ruined the day. We're now a few weeks past his birthday and he is still persistently saying he wants to race.
Should I throw the race (if I'm winning which I acknowledge that I absolutely may not be!) to spare his feelings or should I beat him fair and square if I can? If he wins I am in no doubt that I will hear about it frequently, which if I've thrown the race would be hard to swallow. But I am a grown up (allegedly) so could do it if it's the right thing by him to do. He is a pretty sore loser generally (like most kids his age?) so in some ways I feel it might be good for him to lose (if I am genuinely able to beat him). Or is that just mean?!
Alternatively I could pull out and not allow the race to go ahead at all, but I am not sure this is the right thing to do either, given the length of build up and excitement about it.
What is the best thing to do?