I Take for Granted that the World is Mean

Last night, Punkin was playing a game on one of her favorite websites. When she was done, she minimized the window and was presented with a new window, complete with flashing lights and pretty colors. This new window stated that she had just won a new laptop computer.

Boy, was she excited! I won! I won! She screamed as she jumped up and down. Then we had to pop her bubble. 

Boy, was she upset.

Then I realized how much I take stuff like this for granted. I learned long ago that flashing lights in a pop-up window is nothing but an irritation - and a sign that I forgot to turn on pop-up blocker. But to my 8 year-old, it was an amazing and exciting event - she actually won something (or so she thought).

How do you explain this to a child? Honey, they are lying to you. You didn't win anything. How disheartening for her! I admire my daughter's view of the world...that it can be magical and joyful and that people for the most part are great and trustworthy. But things like this are starting to make her a little cynical. Maybe that's a good thing, but it sure does seem sad.