Playing sports brings you and your child many challenges–some good and some very very ugly.
But when your kids are done playing sports–be it before or after college–there will be things you will miss because there’s nothing quite like watching your child grow, fail, overcome, and succeed in the game!
These are the things I miss now that my kids are 23,26, and 29. Will you miss them too?
- The pure joy of that “first.” First home run, first strike-out, first touchdown, first basket, first goal. Watching their faces light up, I felt the “first” as much as they did!
- Their joy at small victories. Sometimes, the youth sports road got rocky and there were days when they had to forage through a lot of junk to find a small victory. But when they did, it was enough to keep them playing.
- Those overcoming moments. When their team was an underdog, or when they felt their coach doubted them. Worse yet, when they doubted themselves. Seeing them rise above and overcome was pure joy to me. Seeing them fight hard and achieve success thrilled me.
- Crazy car rides. I loved listening to my kids and their friends when I drove them to games and tournaments. I loved hearing them laugh, and sing, and chatter.
- The result of their hard work and patience. Each one of my kids fought for a starting spot on varsity, and believe me, it was not an easy fight. The pride I felt as I watched them take the field or court often brought tears to my eyes.
- Camaraderie. Crazy parents aside, there were plenty of sports parents that I truly enjoyed being. We have such fun memories of AAU tournaments where we’d hang with the other families. And watching our kids enjoy their teammates was all part of the joy of youth sports.
- Big victories. It was always fun when the big victories came. When my daughter’s volleyball team beat a rival in the play-offs that they’d lost to three times in the regular season. When my son’s basketball team won the sectional championship. When my daughter’s softball team beat their crosstown rival. Let’s be honest, as much as we don’t want to play with the dangerous win-at-all-cost mentality, winning is still fun!
- The accolades. Every parent loves to hear good things about their kid, and even if my children didn’t get an award for the season, hearing their coaches praise their attitude and their work ethic always made me smile.
- The anticipation. Of a new season or a big game. I loved waking up and thinking, “Today is the day!” I loved going to work, knowing that I would be off early to go watch my child play.
- Game-time joy. There was a reason I was at so many of my kids’ games. I simply loved watching them play.
How about it, Mom and Dad? What will be the thing you miss the most when your child is done with playing sports?
One thing that I did was make a scrapbook for my kids, that highlighted their sports journey, from they were little through high school. I gave it to my kids when they graduated high school and it has been something they treasure. Here’s a pretty cool Sports Memory Keeper
Establish positive habits that will shape your child’s destiny!
