Comments on: After the Spelling Bee http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/03/after-the-spelling-bee/ The Sweet, The Savory Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:24:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jim F. http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/03/after-the-spelling-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Jim F. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:21:48 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=1097#comment-406 I agree with Hard Disk Driven, this may help Amelia see that work can be enjoyable, especially when done with someone you love and respect. I bet she can find other things to do with you that bring the same kind of satisfaction. I agree with Hard Disk Driven, this may help Amelia see that work can be enjoyable, especially when done with someone you love and respect. I bet she can find other things to do with you that bring the same kind of satisfaction.

]]> By: Hard Disc Driven http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/2009/03/after-the-spelling-bee/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Hard Disc Driven Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:36:29 +0000 http://www.chocolateandgarlic.com/?p=1097#comment-402 While the outcome may not have been the most desired, I do believe it is how gracefully we handle the tough days as opposed to the good ones. The story has been retold more than once during the Olympics of a Russian coach who said that it was easy to determine which children should be trained to become great figure skaters -- not those who skated the best, but those who got back up after they fell, those who did not complain or make excuses, those who listened intently to their coach, and constantly sought after ways to improve. Amelia will likely never misspell obsequious again. I will never misspell "aforementioned." What is more important, she will correctly spell thousands of other words for the rest of her life., and she has seen firsthand how dedication pays off. I'm not an expert, but it seems clear to me that her mistake was due to nerves at such an intimidating venue, not lack of preparation. Now she knows what it is like to go to the Regional Bee. She has years of eligibility left, and the hours of practice she has already invested will be the foundation of future successes if she decides to stick with it. Should she stick with it? If she finds words fun, the answer in my mind is a resounding YES! Some kids wouldn't enjoy it, but anyone that age that is willing to wake up early to practice certainly has what it takes. I think anything that a person enjoys enough to get out of bed early to do is with pursuing. It is even better if multiple family members can enjoy the same thing. I wouldn't grieve too much over the loss Pmom, if she's remotely as tenacious as she sounds (and seems to be in person) she may start training even earlier next season. In the off time, I'm sure there is something else she'll pursue that you can enjoy with her. While the outcome may not have been the most desired, I do believe it is how gracefully we handle the tough days as opposed to the good ones. The story has been retold more than once during the Olympics of a Russian coach who said that it was easy to determine which children should be trained to become great figure skaters — not those who skated the best, but those who got back up after they fell, those who did not complain or make excuses, those who listened intently to their coach, and constantly sought after ways to improve.

Amelia will likely never misspell obsequious again. I will never misspell “aforementioned.” What is more important, she will correctly spell thousands of other words for the rest of her life., and she has seen firsthand how dedication pays off. I’m not an expert, but it seems clear to me that her mistake was due to nerves at such an intimidating venue, not lack of preparation. Now she knows what it is like to go to the Regional Bee. She has years of eligibility left, and the hours of practice she has already invested will be the foundation of future successes if she decides to stick with it.

Should she stick with it? If she finds words fun, the answer in my mind is a resounding YES! Some kids wouldn’t enjoy it, but anyone that age that is willing to wake up early to practice certainly has what it takes.

I think anything that a person enjoys enough to get out of bed early to do is with pursuing. It is even better if multiple family members can enjoy the same thing. I wouldn’t grieve too much over the loss Pmom, if she’s remotely as tenacious as she sounds (and seems to be in person) she may start training even earlier next season. In the off time, I’m sure there is something else she’ll pursue that you can enjoy with her.

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