One Season Ends and Another Begins....

Congratulations to my girl Cat for a great Soccer Season. You were incredible to watch and showed mum and dad what a nice influence you are on your teamates, pulling them together and having fun. Great goal today and way to stay warm on a 40 degree day at 8am on a Saturday.

Now we start basketball. Mum and Dad know how well you did last year and are looking forward to another great season.

We love you

And to our little one Cal, please don't let your friend Ben put anymore Aquadots in your juice boxes on your playdates.

V is for Victory

Kudos to my daughter Cat and her team the Diamonds on their Victory yesterday. It was thrilling to watch Cat score her first goal, make 2 assists and success as goalie in the second half of the game.

Victory got me thinking of the other words in our language that begin with the letter V.


Vociferous--I was overly vociferous in my support of the team and my daughter. Why is it that I lose all sense of reason when I see my children succeed at a sport. Am I really turning into "that kind of mom?" Is it merely positive reinforcement to a slightly psychotic level. Is it different when she does poorly? Will I scream at the top of my lungs "That's OK next time try to kick it in the opponent's net, I still support you!!" as I clutch onto the hubsters arm hard enough to cause bruising

Videotaping--for those of us who are huge sports fans and follow the New England Patriots, I can't quite get my brain around this videotaping scandal. "Everyone does it" yes, I can imagine. But what are the other things in life are we going to explain to our kids that everyone else "does" and to just turn the other cheek. (sex before marriage, drinking before the age of 21, trying pot....)

Virtue--As a mother of 2 young children, its easy to imagine the kind of virtues I am going to try to instill on my girls as they become young women (don't do drugs, don't drink and drive blah blah). In "sports terms"-that's a "layup" correct? What are the virtues we are introducing without realizing it? Its OK to gossip about the other mom's in the neighborhood, its OK to skip church or work because we simply don't feel like going, is it OK to tell little white lies ..."tell Nana I am in the shower and can't talk right now!" Do these little indiscretions creep up on us eventually?

Value--Would my reaction been different had the Diamonds lost yesterday. Had Cat's goal, 2 assists, numerous saves while in goal been erased by the mere fact that they lost? I hope not. I hope that Cat realizes that doing her personal best regardless of the outcome is what we value and not necessarily winning. I hope that all of us "sports parents" keep that in check this season.

Volunteering--Yes, Very proud of Cat again. She volunteered to play goalie in the second half. What made me proud was the fact that I was such a shy and mousy kid, I never volunteered to do anything. Makes me wonder, is that 9 year old mouse still in me that makes me not want to volunteer for anything else in life and I have simply disguised the lack of volunteerism with being busy?

Valor--Defined means "strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness : personal bravery." Great word-in fact my favorite in the bunch. When I think of valor, I think of knights in shining armor slaying the enemy. In modern times in the suburbs, who or what is the enemy and how do we define personal bravery?

~T

It's Time for HOCKEY!

Okay....so as predicted, I am writing about hockey.

Today is our first game of the season.

I have volunteered to be the Team Mom again this year....but now the BOD has decided to call us Team Managers....very official sounding.

I am in charge of all the social aspects of team. We will go to a Bruins game....have a Holiday Party....go out to breakfast after 6am practices (which we have tomorrow).....providing snacks after each game....

.

Get the picture?

Many people back up and keep a safe distance when someone mentions that they are a hockey parent. Rumor has it that we are all crazy. As Trish can tell you, I am not crazy. But I am passionate......BIG difference!

I know you have seen reports on the news about 'incidents' at the rink between parents or players....but the truth is....those people who give the sport a bad name, are in the minority.

I compare it to flying in an airplane. Thousands & thousands of flights all over the world fly day after day....without anyone really noticing. When there is a tragedy with one of these planes, it is reported for days!

Understandably so.......

Same with hockey......

When one of these idiotic parents becomes out of control.....it's all over the news. The fact of the matter is, there are thousands of youth hockey players and parents, playing in and attending games, all over the country and in many other countries, day after day and are able to do so without a problem. There are many, many of us that behave as adults should behave and we teach our little hockey players the same.

It's been quite the opposite, of those reported incidents, in many situations....I've had parents from other teams come over to our team parents after a game and compliment a goalie's efforts & such. There are many of us that just want to see the kids have fun!

If my son ever behaved in a disrespectful or violent manner before, during or after a game or practice, it could quite possibly be the end of his skating days!

Hockey is a wonderful sport that keeps kids is great physical shape (as it is reported that so many kids are overweight in this country). My son has high cholesterol is it is an essential part of maintaining good health for him. Hockey teaches kids invaluable lessons about team work, respect, self control and it gives them a feeling of self-worth so they become more confident in other aspects of their life. My son shocked us this week.....he is campaigning for Student Council VP!!!!! Now, that's not something he got from either one of his parents...LOL!

So all I am asking is to keep and open mind and try to think of all us hockey parents as individuals and not one big mob of crazed parents.

Ask Trish.....she has met so many of my hockey friends and they are a really fun bunch!

Happy Fall Sports to Everyone!!!! ...whether you are heading to a hockey rink, soccer field, football field or gymnasium for volleyball......teach the kids how to behave & treat others by being their example.

Stay positive!