There wouldn't have been cuddles and soothing words of "never mind darling, your brother can give you one of his medals so you both have the same".
She would have said "well next year you will have to try just that little bit harder and then maybe you will get more medals" — then she would have given her a cuddle.
I watched them at Nippers last time I was in Australia - in between sunning myself and swimming.
My grandson loves it. He's tried rugby and karate and never been that enthusiastic. But he has taken to Nippers like a fish to water and he is very competitive. He gives it his all so I wasn't surprised to see him with a big smile on his face and several medals hanging around his neck.
He is also nearly three years older and much more of a risk-taker than his sister. Maybe she will find something else that suits her or maybe she will decide she's going to show her brother how many medals she can get next year.
I'm hoping for the latter.
There's been talk lately that some schools are thinking of dropping cross country because the children don't enjoy it and they don't like coming last.
Really! I find that absolutely incredible. I didn't like maths — nobody offered to drop it for me.
And who does like coming last. That's why you practice, that's why you try your hardest.
I'm not saying it's all about winning because it's not. It is about participation, determination, or simply taking part in an outdoor event.
Today's children need every encouragement possible to get outdoors and do some physical exercise.
Competition is good for the soul. Imagine if the likes of Aimee Fisher, who won the supreme award at the Hawke's Bay Sports Awards on Saturday night, had given up the first time she lost a race or fell out of her kayak or Dan Carter packed away his boots because he didn't get a try in his first game (he probably did).
Life is full of challenges and failures, and children need to learn how to deal with the emotions that come with both. Parents and teachers can help them deal with and understand the feelings of butterflies in the tummy before a race and tell them it's normal to feel a little nervous.
Nobody is good at everything whether it's cross country or cross stitch but in order to find out what you are good at you at least have to try it.
I think parents should encourage their children to have a go at everything they can. Who knows where it will lead.
■ Footnote. Just have to share this little gem from the granddaughter. She's not always grumpy, she's a sweet, kind intelligent child. When I was staying with them she said to me "I know where babies come from. You have to have a mum and a dad. But there's a secret about it they are not telling me."
I had to keep a straight face. What I should have said is "when you find out let me know".
■ Linda Hall is assistant editor of Hawke's Bay Today.
■ Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's.
