Ok so the big controversy of the day is how Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison took his kids "participation trophies" away from them. I know a lot of hippy liberals don't like this and that's because they are all for the pussyfication of America. I agree with James Harrison, winners should be recognized and awarded and the non-winners should be left with the cold sting of defeat deep in their soul. ESPECIALLY at a young age where most lessons are actually learned. You can't go telling a kid he or she is a winner their whole lives and give them a false sense of awesomeness and then have them grow up and not be able to have a grasp on reality when then lose. Yes, it is true, losing builds character, it teaches many valuable lessons and develops traits far greater than winning develops.
It's the same lessons you learn in the gym when your gym buddies tell you that you are squatting low enough when you aren't even in the ball park and then you bomb miserably and blame the judges, the federation, the sun was in your eyes, etc. Life in and out of the gym is all about cause and effect, the way you live is the way your life will eventually play out. Just like the way you train will dictate the kind of athlete you will be. The big difference here is you can fake awesomeness out in the street all you want but you can't fake that shit in the gym, no matter what your parents are telling you.
When I was growing up our parents made it pretty clear to us that we were basically worthless, pieces of shit, nobodies until proven otherwise, you want to be great well then figure out a way to go out and MAKE yourself great (I'm still working on that). I raised my daughters the same way, I gave them what they needed, food, shelter, protection and all that love and nurturing crap but I also used to tell them "No matter what they teach you in that school, the second you walk out of there life becomes a life and death competition where it is VERY hard to win and VERY easy to lose". They have done a good job and have grown up to be two beautiful, grounded individuals who both are very happy.
So gather up your kids 13th place ribbons and participation trophies, throw them in the trash and make them watch "High Plains Drifter" and tell them to act like Clint Eastwood. It just may save your kids.