Team Parents Make Life Better
Kelly has already written the best tips regarding surviving youth sports whether your child’s team is on the road or in a tournament in town. She and I discuss the benefits of sports quite often, and why they are worth the investment of our time, energy, and money. Because sports parents spend so much time cheering for a common goal, we can’t help but grow close to them while volunteering, sitting in the stands, or traveling to different tournaments. Every youth sports parent knows what I’m talking about when I say, they become an extension of our family.
Pick Up When We Fall Short
Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate that team parents welcome kids into their lives with open arms. My oldest child is very young for his age, and until he is graced with that plastic ticket to drive, he counts on the selflessness of his teammates and their parents, armed only with a smile and gas money to get to each away game. With multiple children all equally involved in activities, my spouse and I need to count on our football and baseball families more than if he was of driving age.
When I’ve been pulled in different parenting directions, parents and teammates have welcomed my kids into their homes and cars so that they can be included in the memory-making activities that youth sports provide. My middle son’s teammates’ parents bring extra hydration, seeds, and fruit to share with the team. We try to do the same with Gatorades and waters. I don’t think I’ll ever be that mom who has it all together, so when I fall short, I am so thankful for the many helpful hands sitting in the stands cheering on our teams.
Cheer for Our Kid
Recently, my oldest son has graduated from middle school sports to high school, so we have been the new family to football, wrestling, and baseball teams. It’s hard to leave a group of parents you’ve grown so close to for an entirely different experience in high school. It can be as intimidating as finding a lunch table on your first day of school. However, each new team has confirmed how loving team parents can be.
Before even knowing our kids, the parents in the stands already cheer them on. They root for the good things they see and encourage them when things aren’t going right. Fellow team moms and dads make our kids feel supported on and off of the field, and that takes the isolation out of a new place. When our kids get frustrated, the other parents are there to get them out of their funk with a funny phrase or “have fun” reminder. The best parts of life happen when people feel included, and sports parents do that well.
Common Goal
Most of the people we meet on the sidelines have the same goal for the kids: let’s have some fun. Winning is a great feeling, but our kids learn just as much from losing. Life is like that. Weathering the ups and downs with integrity is important to be a productive adult, and kids learn some of those life skills in sports. My sons and daughter can look in the stands and see the parents supporting them no matter what. It’s a special feeling to have a large group working together to reach a common goal. The wins are that much sweeter and the losses hurt a little bit less when you don’t feel alone.
Cycle of Selflessness
The cliche is true: it takes a village to raise kids. I feel like it’s never been truer in a world that feels foreign to us, Gen Xers. It’s entirely different from the one we grew up in, and it can feel like we aren’t getting it right. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the magic of a group of adults supporting the kids with their kindness and energy. Our athletes see these selfless acts, and I believe witnessing them now will help inspire them to give back to youth when it’s their turn in the stands. Our family is thankful for the collections of parents that have helped our children feel the love. Thank goodness for sports families. They make life that much sweeter.