Not being THAT parent

You know the boy is playing football. Honest to God tackle football.

The first game of the season was last night. Mad Dogs lost 21-6. But, I will say this - those boys are making plays and playing real ball. The other team just has a couple of fast boys we couldn't catch. They had no idea what they were doing.   I know the score doesn't reflect the best, but I think our boys have coaches that really want to teach them the fundamentals of the game and you can really see it when they are on the field. 

Still, it was frustrating to watch. I kept cheering Cooper and his team on though. I had decided before games started, I would not yell and criticize how he played. He's only 7 years old!  And he's never played before - like most of his team!  :)

There's plenty of parents out there that are "that" parent though. I couldn't believe some of the stuff I heard. Give your kid pointers but don't be harsh.  One mom is so loud, I don't even want to sit near her.  She yells at her two boys, at the coaches, at the umpires.....she'd probably yell at me if she caught me yawking at her with my mouth wide open.  I don't like seeing the team lose either, but come on!  Coop said he had fun - no doubt he did. I could tell he was nervous lined up against a bigger boy. I could even tell he was hesitant to tackle him period. He'll learn how to handle the big boys on his own and with his coaches help. For now, I'm sticking to just cheering him on.

 

 

He looks lost doesn't he?

 

 

But in all seriousness, we make sports too easy for kids sometimes.  If you sign up for a sport, you're in.  And that's fine - but now we have leagues where no one keeps score and the rules are modified to help all the kids "succeed" - but there's times where I think that causes more damage than good.  If you sign up and play, then PLAY.  You're kidding yourself if you think the kids don't keep score.  They do.  And stop making some rules easier so Bubba can score a goal, or Sally can score a few points.  It's called practice.  You have a coach, you practice, and if you win, you win. 

 

It wasn't easy watching the Mad Dogs lose.  And seeing the score up on the score board wasn't a pleasant sight - AT ALL.  But it's real.  And now the boys and coaches have something to work on in practice.  Like how to run down a deer dressed in a football jersey. 

 

My baby is having fun.  He's learning a lot and is having some great Daddy/Son time.  I know it's my nature to be THAT parent, but for now, I'm resolved to try my best to hold her back and just ride the wave.  I'm not sure I'll succeed, but I'm trying.  :)