Felicia & Colouring Contest

Dear All

This morning (Mon, 28 Apr 08), whilst waiting for the school bus with Feli and Tiff, Feli was super excited. Not because today is her orals (that reminder gave her some stress) but because today is the colouring competition of Nadia and the prince of caspian (or something like that). I believe it'll be showing on the cinemas 29 May. She told me last night that today's art class would not be straw/paint blowing but instead, the teacher would be distributing the contest form for them to colour. Tiff forgot about it and exclaimed "Oh yeah ah. It's today." and added "Feli, are you really going to enter the contest?" Feli said "Yaahhh. 1st prize is 20 tickets to the show. 2nd prize is 10 tickets and 3rd prize is 6 tickets!"

So, when she returned from school today, Feli happily showed me her colouring. Due to food price increases, I also increased her allowance by 50cents since last Fri. And guess what she used the extra money for??? She bought a glitter glue for 70cents to use for her colouring contest form. She was so eager-beaver to win that she spare no expense to make her work look nicer.

I must say her colouring is not bad. There's some shading and colour combination. I later inspected and read the fine print on the rules of the contest, and discovered that only colour pencils are allowed, and the contest is opened to 6 - 9 year olds. I told Feli about the no glitter pen rule, and she tried to erase all her little dots of glitter. I didn't see what she did to remove them, but all I know was she burst into tears and wailed that now her work is all ruined! Any more erasing, there'll be holes in her work. I told her never mind, leave it alone and pass it up. Otherwise get another form and colour again. Both suggestions were met with more tears. She wailed that :"But I want to win!!!!". I reasoned with her that submission of the form does not mean she will win anyway. She then sobered down and didn't talk about the contest again.

Feli is such a competitive little girl. When I showed Tiff her sis's work, Tiff said "Oh yahh, teacher didn't give me the form. Anyway, I forgot about it." So I told her she won't get the form anyway cos it for those aged 6 - 9 only. She didn't comprehend why Feli is so worked up anyway...the prizes were only movie tickets afterall...As far as she's concerned, it's not worth her while. I tend to agree too. But NOW I am beginning to understand, it doesn't take much to motivate a 7 going onto 8 year old, yah? ;)

Love Theresa