I won't but I feel like doing this

[rbmilliner]

DD 6 has spent all week preparing a speech to be presented to her class for the school council elections this Friday. She's really put a lot of effort in and thought about it how she can improve the school (obviously we've had to manage the expectation of longer play times, sweets for lunch etc😂).
On the way school chatting to her little friend who is also entering, I heard her friend ask who she was going to get to vote for her. DD looked a little bit stumped and her friend then reeled off the list of people who would be voting for her - virtually all the class!
I know I can't do this but I honestly feel like not sending her in on Friday - PLEASE NOTE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS - as I know she's going to be so disappointed after trying so hard and doesn't take disappointment well. I know it's part of life, builds resilience etc but any experience / advice on dealing with this.

Remind her now that she may well not win but that trying is great anyway. Celebrate her efforts either way, don’t pass on your feelings to your DD! Win or loose it’s an experience she needs.

I hate things like this. I'd manage her expectations and get her to start telling people to vote for her like the friend is doing!

My own DD is actually doing her speech today for their student council. All the others entering have older siblings so seem to have more idea of what works in the speeches and how it works etc . Poor DD will be so disappointed if she doesn't win as she was been mad to do this for years (it's only the senior classes in her school).

You’re taking the word of a 6 year old that she’s manipulated the entire class into voting for her?!

Agree with PP that there's still time for some gentle expectations managing here.

I reckon you have time to teach her about the deviousness of politics rather than assuming she’ll lose because someone has been psyching her out.

What would convince/manipulate the voters into giving her the vote? A bag of sweets with the promise of more to come if she gets their vote? Best done in the hours before the vote itself so others don’t get wind of her tactics! 😆

The list of people a 6 year thinks will vote for her and the list of people who actually will vote for her is probably totally different so I wouldn't put any stock in that.

Plus, the teacher could very well rig it and let whoever she thinks will be best win.

But half the 6 year olds would just say yes if the friend asked them to vote for her - it doesn't mean they actually will or will even remember who they said yes to! I'd just keep praising your DD for the effort she's putting in and see what happens.

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I am taking the word of a six year old and taking it a bit too literally.
@Inthemane 😂 I'd love to encourage her to use sneaky tactics but she's got a really strong sense of social justice and will probably give me a lecture on blackmail!

This is what the world is like. Best to learn the lesson early! I was an adult before I figured out how it works. I once put huge effort into working hard and making lots of great plans, only to be beaten to the position of Chairperson by someone who did fuck all except go round saying “Vote for me”. He recruited his friends to pull in favours too, I heard someone whispering “Remember we’re voting for Dale not for Sugar, otherwise you won’t be invited to my bbq parties in future”. It’s fucking shit but that’s life.

Great life lesson that it's always, always, a popularity contest.

It's not like whoever gets elected has any power. I remember by some point in Secondary school they couldn't even get people to stand for school council. We were all old enough to know it was a waste of time.

That was my take on it. She may have manipulated them into saying they'll vote for her but it doesn't mean they will.

When I was at school I'd say yes to anyone who asked me to vote for them (to make them happy at the time) but in the end I'd vote for whoever I wanted to. This isn't currently a reliable source of information.

she's got a really strong sense of social justice and will probably give me a lecture on blackmail!

Well use this as a talking point. Praise her efforts and focus on how proud you are for giving it a go and not resorting to underhand tactics.

Or resort to underhand tactics and send her in with a big bag or harribo...

I am almost entirely certain that DDs junior school manipulated the results.

Pretty dreadful but inexplicably popular naughty child gave a barely coherent speech culminating in "vote for me I'll bring the fun" to audience cheers.

The actual winner was a thoughtful child with a well prepared speech that no one seemed to listen to.

Teachers did the counting. Thoughtful child won.....

What I would do is tell your DD that you are going to celebrate her taking part in these elections, not whether she wins or not and plan a little treat for her whatever happens.

She sounds fab 😊

It would be such a shame if the other kid's speech notes "disappeared " 😉

Yes, that would be a shame, considering the children are 6.

@parkingsadness I'm kind of hoping that will happen, or alternatively the best child will win - which could neither of them!

@Motnight that's a lovely idea, I'll take her out for a little treat.

@LakeTiticaca 😂shameless - but tempting

I wonder if the teacher could remind them all that no one will know who voted for who and explain that it is very important everyone makes up their own mind when they vote.