CRASH TEST

          "I brought the bridge they made last week," John walked in the door holding the lightweight wooden structure gleaming with dried glue.

          "Can we break it?" realizing my tone was abrupt, I added, "I mean, can we use this as a test model, and build another?"

          John grinned.  The room rose in a unanimous cheer.  We marched outside, looking for something akin to weights.  We found the right thing in the front of the house, and each child picked up a landscaping stone and brought it to our weigh station. 

          How many will it hold?  The guesses ranged from none to all of them--seven stones at about twenty pounds each.  We laugh in anticipation as John directs the kids on gently placing the stones on the bridge.  Some are anxious for their turn; others shy away in concern for their safety. 

          Crash!  The third stone causes the structure to crumple into splintered pieces, and the children instantly dance around the well, picking up small bits of wood and tossing them into the air and at each other--except for two.  Jessica and Kalli look dismayed.

          "It broke!"  Their tone was surprised and distressed.  "Now we'll have to make another one!"

          It's about the process, I remind myself, not the end product.  But to the girls I say, "Making another bridge might be more fun than breaking this one.  And imagine what that one will hold on competition day!"