Despite the recent movement to promote kids who aren’t perfect (there’s even a book), Lisa and I will sit back and glow with pride after our parenting skills paid off last week. Emily came home Sunday night and received a phone call that she had been selected for the Elk Grove Select Soccer Team. Still ready to high-five her for her sporting achievement when I picked her up from school on Monday, I was greeted with a grinning girl saying, “Guess who got first place in the science fair?”

Of course Lisa and I take credit for all of this, citing our parenting skills. For her part–two two-hour sessions of grueling tryouts and one day of rain-soaked swimming…er, soccer, Emily was rewarded with the knowledge that she beat out several dozen others her age to make the only select team from the Elk Grove area.

In the science fair, her project, “What’s the fastes way to chill a can of soda?” garnered her a blue-ribbon. “And I got to hear my name on the loud speaker at school,” she said.

Also don’t forget that only a few weeks ago our pride began with Emily’s honor roll announcement at school.

By the way, the fastest way to chill a can of soda? Pour it over ice.