Working to Achieve

Many times people will say "if you don't make your children work hard they won't do it themselves."  

Finding that to be false time and again, has been my experience.  Most recently, this occurred in my daughter's desire to place at an archery shoot.   

As a family, we participated in a local archery shoot on Saturday.  GM age group shot 15 targets at 10 yards each.  She scored 83 an thought it was good enough to be awarded a medal.  Yet when the award time arrived she took 4th.  This was humbling.  Especially when her brother took 1st in his age division.  

Immediately, she made plans to return home and recruited her dad to help her improve her accuracy.  Together they spent time working on her sight, bow, and stance. The next day, she returned to shoot Sunday's course and scored 128.  A 45 point improvement! 

Did we force her to do to this?  Did we make her practice?  Did we even suggest that she return and try again on Sunday?  

No, no, and no.  She took it upon herself to work hard, improve, and try again.  She wanted it.  This is key.  She wanted it more that we did, therefore she achieved it.