Jensen Family 5: Official Tiger, Grrrrrr and Zoommmmmm...

A few weeks ago Jack's Scout pack had their Blue and Gold banquet. Here he received his Tiger badge. How awesome! He loves scouts so much and I am so happy to be included in the activities as his "Akela". They also had their pinewood derby. We worked hard on his car. I didn't know we would be able to cut out a car at scouts and since I don't have the right tools here in MS(my dad does in AZ!) we chose to purchase a car already cut out. With my OCD of course I researched and learned that more weight on the back was best. I also read that the less wood and more weight in weights was best. Jack wanted a semi truck, but I kinda convinced him to get a dragster of sorts.
He sanded, sanded some more, painted, sanded more, painted again and then put on his decals. He was so excited. Jack is very competitive and I explained that winning isn't everything and helped remember the scout motto "Do your best", in the hopes that if he did win he should be a gracious winner and if he didn't come in 1st he should be very happy for his fellow tiger and be happy for them.
Well race day came. I was asked to be the official photographer so I didn't get to hang with my family. For whatever reason they had the tigers racing last. So much for shortest attention span going first! Jack was so excited. Their were about 6 tigers in his den that entered cars. They were all so cute and creative! I had been concerned that Jacks car might not be heavy enough in the front, so I place a few weights to look like headlights. We never got to really try the cars out on a trial track to see how they would run. If this had happened, I would have found that we needed to place more weight up front.
I felt awful. His car came in last, because as it headed down the track it caught sir underneath and lifted just enough to slow down and wobble a bit on the track. Man I felt like the worst parent ever since I was the one who encouraged him to get the design he did. I wasn't wanting him to win really(if he did great) I just wanted him to at least not be last. I learned a very valuable lesson. Next year, he gets to pick out everything. I will still encourage him a little but for the most part, he can call the shots. Needless to say he was so very upset. Coming in last was tragic for him. UGH!!!!!!