I think that one of the hardest lessons we as parents must teach our kids is how to be competitive and happy without the need to be first. Most of our lives we spend doing things that someone else can do better. Its critical that our kids learn that they can stand and compete against what seems at times to be insurmountable odds, and still take home personal victories. Its easy to teach them to want to win, thats part of our very nature. Teach them to take a victory home from 5th or 500th place, now you've accomplished something. They, and we, need to see the the accomplishments of others from the back row once in a while, to really appreciate the glory when its our turn to shine.