Ask a Dad

Disclaimer: Tyler H is a guest blogger and father to Emi. The Three Bay B Chicks have asked him to shed light on a Dad’s point of view under the stern supervision of his loving wife, Kacey. If you have a question for Ask A Dad, feel free to submit it in the comments section. Note that Ask A Dad has always been and will always be fake advice…except for this one (wink).

Raising a Winner


A loyal reader asked me, “How can I raise my child to be a winner?” Great question. In order for them feel like a winner, they must be determined to win. As a parent, you must instill in them an aggressive drive to compete.

For starters, if you want what’s best for your kids, then you shouldn’t be afraid to use the word “best.” Get that word ingrained into their impressionable little minds as early as possible. For instance, when you take them shopping, always ask the store clerk which product is the best. If you’re like me and can’t afford the best, do not worry. As you talk to the clerk, wink and covertly point to the cheapest item.

Also, when playing games, introduce the “who’s better at it” idea. For instance, when playing with dolls, you might say, “Hey Sarah, wanna play who’s a better pretend mommy?”

A few other ideas to ensure that your child is a winner:

1) When Christmas nears, tell your child that Santa only has one more of the toy on their wish list left and that he must decide who to give the toy to: them or the kid next door. Add to this that Santa's decision will be based on their ability to intimidate the neighbor's kid.

2) In the presence of your child, give other children twice as much praise for the same accomplishment.

3) Lastly, time them. Time them on everything they do.

Mark my words, if you follow these subtle precepts, you’ll be assured to raise a winner…unless you live next door to us.

-Tyler