When Is It Time To Let Go?

My daughter made some tough decisions over the past year.  One of them was whether to try out for the high school soccer team. There were good arguments on both sides.  She had quit her competitive soccer team over a year before, but had played on the middle school team.  But the season was short, and the competition not as intense as the club teams.  She knew her skills were weakened.  And, she knew she was never the strongest player on the field.  Would she be able to compete now?  Even to just make the junior varsity team?

Her former teammates encouraged her.  Offered to practice with her.  But she had other concerns.  She has a rigorous academic load as well as other extra-curricular commitments already.  Would she be able to handle it all if she did make the team?  And, what if she didn't make it?

Her father and I encouraged her. At least to try if she wasn't ready to let go just yet.  We felt she would at least make the junior varsity team after so many years of club soccer but recognized the possibility that she might not make any team.  We just didn't want her to regret not trying.  Right up until the last day, she said she was going to try out.

Then...she changed her mind. We worried she would regret it, but we had to let her make the decision.  I wanted her to learn to trust her gut, and not have us constantly second guessing her.  I'm glad we stepped back and let her decide.

In the end, she did not try out, and she is at peace with her decision.  Her friends tried out, and made varsity.  We're proud of them, and she's proud of them.  And happy to cheer them on from the sidelines.  Now, it's off to musical theater auditions!

What Life Skills do Sports Teach to Girls?

I went through a women's leadership development program a number of years ago and one of the sessions was about learning how to "play the game".  The speaker talked about the benefits that most boys learn that girls don't and how this translates into the world of work.  I agree there are many valuable life lessons. 

One of the biggest lessons she shared is: learn how to lose.  It sounds preposterous, I know. What she really meant was: learn how to get up and brush yourself off and try again after you lose.  Because everyone loses sometimes.  Once the game is over, "the puck is in the net".  It does no good to whine about it.   And the people who don't let themselves get fixated on the loss, the ones who get up and say "we'll get 'em next time" and then give it their all the next time end up winning eventually. 

I'm so glad my daughter is learning this lesson early.  She had an unfortunate play in a recent game, resulting in a goal for the other team.  Though it didn't change the outcome of the game, she still was upset about it.  But by the time of the next team practice two days later, it was forgotten.  It's not going to negatively affect her play in her next game this week.  She doesn't know it but that ability to move forward and try again, to persevere, is going to serve her well all throughout her life.   

All Eyes Were On Women's World Cup

Wow!  Apparently, the majority of Americans watched the Women's World Cup.  That is great news, not only for women's pro soccer but also for girls.  It illustrates that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.  What great examples they have in these women!

See the Yahoo article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/majority-americans-watched-followed-fifa-womens-world-cup-070331485.html

Welcome

Hi fellow sports moms! 

As a mom of two kids involved in team sports, I thought it would be great to have a resource for news and deals for moms like me.  So, I created one.  Hope you enjoy it!