Those of you who know me know that I am a fairly competitive person.  It really doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I want to win or be the best.  Just this weekend we had some folks over and one of our guests and Lucy were playing “Just Dance 4”.  I decided that not only should I play (without the remote), I should sell the dance moves.  This need to win goes back to my childhood.  Playing baseball was when I was at my most intense.  The way I played second base, you’d have thought it was game 7 of the World Series.  I remained this way, though time has made me a bit less fiery.  The boss is the same way.  She is just as competitive as I am and some of our most trying times centered around us trying to one up each other in the classroom.  And now, we watch our kids play.

I am not sure which is the more cardiac arrest inducing activity.  Is it harder to stand at home with a 3-2 count and the game on the line or is it harder to watch your child take the block at a swim meet, or race down midfield with a scoring opportunity?  Following all of my friends on social media it is clear that we are actively engaged in our kids’ events.  What is your take on this?  I assist with the coaching of Ethel’s soccer team and I really have to keep my competitive streak in check.  I have to remind myself that these are children playing a game.  Before the little ones take the field, I tell them to “play hard, play smart, and have fun”.  Sometimes I think the parents should hear that as well.  I suppose that I have two goals (other than winning) when they compete: that they not get hurt and that they do their best.  But as a parent I want them to not only do their best, I want them to succeed.  In the end, this is what I think we all want for our children-success.

It is hard watching your children on their own or with their team engaging in an activity that you, as a parent, can in no way influence.  I am sure that my parents experienced the same thing 30 years ago.  Its clear that they haven’t yet turned it off.  Will my girls be athletic powerhouses?  I doubt it.  But what I hope is that they understand that the thrill of success doesn’t only have to be found on a sports field in front of a crowd.  Success can be felt by understanding a difficult school topic or finally getting that one note right on that song.  Regardless of where the success occurs, the smile on their face is worth the agony.  That is when you truly feel your heart skip a beat.