Funny..

How something is given to you at the exact moment you need it.

It seems like the last 3 weeks have been THEE busiest weeks for the girls, with sports and school. Busy girls mean SUPER busy (crabby) mom. While I have my moments of resentment for having to drive the girls all over hell and back, for bitching about 610a practice on school days, and sometimes for just for sitting in the bleachers for 10 hours straight. I really, in my heart, wouldn't change it. My only concern is that the girls don't appreciate all that I do for them....like I KNOW I didn't appreciate the things my parents did for me (and my sister). Paybacks are a real B, huh? That said, after the weekend I've had, this article (given to me by one of my co-workers who does the same for his kids) put it all in perspective for me. Now, this doesn't mean that I won't continue to bitch about driving to the school ONE MORE TIME this week....it was what I needed at the exact moment I needed it. Enjoy!

It pays to be in game(s), moms and dads:

You see athletes large, small and in between. Some are gifted and know it, so they coast. Others are not and know it, so they work like crazy. A select few are gifted and work like crazy.

There is a place for all of them in youth, junior high and high school sports.

There also is a place for their parents...so many places. You find them behind the wheel, in dugouts, on benches, in lawn chairs, at concession stands, in hotel lobbies....

They work ahead or work split shifts or work into the wee hours, all in an attempt to be there when the boy or girl they welcomed into the world digs in with the bases loaded or drives to the basket.

Occasionally, they look in the mirror or at the bank statement and wonder, "Is it all worth it? Is all of this really worth it?"

Here's the good news.

Yes.

It is absolutely worth it.

The wins and losses fade. Trophies collect dust in the attic. Stat sheets wind up in a recycle bin.

None of them matter.

You realize it years later. Like the day you wake up and your youngest is graduating from college.

You hear her talk about a semester-long project that involved building a city - designing the water system, infrastructure, etc. - and the mind drifts to softball diamonds here and in other cities, other states.

It was a group project requiring strategy, planning, execution and, more than anything, teamwork. Sports introduced her to all of it.

They taught her and her sister that life isn't always fair. Line drives get caught. Bloopers fall in. Umpires miss calls. Players drop balls.

Deal with it. Learn from it. Move on.

Sports strengthened their resolve, toughened their skin. So when an irate boss openly voices his/her displeasure, they can tell a concerned co-worker: "It's OK. I've had coaches yell at me."

Doesn't mean they like it, doesn't make it right. But they can handle it.

Sports prepare them to manage success and disappointment, deal with adversity. Remember that the next time you drive six hours to a sweltering summer tournament, or shiver under a blanket at a spring doubleheader.

It's worth it.

Just be sure to occasionally take a breath, take a step back and take a second to enjoy the moment. It doesn't last much beyond that.

Games turn to seasons and seasons to years, faster than you can say, "Do you have everything in your bat bag?"

Squeeze what you can from the long rides, the overnight stays. You never get those back. Be a shame to waste them listening to an iPod or dwelling on a loss.

Thanks for checking in,
L