A Larger Lesson

What I am about to tell you is definitely not a common mindset. However, I feel like it is more in line with my morals. You won’t be hearing about what place my kids got or what the end score was anymore. Because to be honest none of that matters to me. What matters to me is whether my children were good teammates or leaders, if they gave their best, and if they learned anything.

High school backup quarterback throwing a pass. Photo courtesy of Kellie Jo Allison Photography.

It’s about life skills for me!

I don’t want my children to be remembered for their athletic abilities. I know, how could she?! Hear me out before you get all judgy, I want them to be remembered for the skills that will take them much further in life. And that’s good leadership, respect for teammates, always lending a hand, standing up for themselves and others, and simply knowing right is right and wrong is wrong.

Those moments will play out in our minds for days to come. I can remember the smile my boy Hayden wore off the field when he helped a teammate score his first touchdown. He was so pumped for the OTHER boy! I don’t remember the score or even if they won the game now, I remember that smile he shared instead. All the high-fives he gave his teammates because they “killed them out there.” That’s what I remember now looking back.

The world needs loyalty more than ever.

I know that winning and losing is an important lesson also but I want my children to be known for more. They have been winning and losing since kindergarten when they played tug-of-war in gym class. In a world where you can be anything, I want my kids to be kind and loyal humans.

Kids playing outside in teams builds skills, we need more of these moments in life again.