Parental Behaviors on the Sidelines

I'm a mom who ardently follows her kids' sports. Through the years, their teams have the average wins and losses - some seasons more one way or the other. My daughter plays on a varsity high school soccer team and a good club team. Her teams have had a really good year. We have had much to cheer for!

So - I have decided that I'm not the best sideline mom. This is not a confession of over-the-top antics that embarrass my daughter. Not at all...I think it is because I spend time judging the behavior of the other sideline moms and dads instead of watching the game. And I drive my spouse crazy doing it.

The people that yell at the referee incur my greatest under-the-breath-lips-pursed wrath. I'm all for setting an example - and it's obvious in some cases which parent belongs to which player by matching behaviors. Sometimes the player that has the least patience on the field and is most likely to receive warnings and cards from the referee is the daughter of a major mouth in the stands. So the examples are indeed being set in some cases.

The other parent that gets dirty looks from me (passive/agressive classic glares) is the one who yells at their own player - and worse, someone else's player. I have loosed a comment in their direction on some occasions and have directly confronted others - at risk of personal injury I can imagine. Sometimes, I can't help it.

There are so many positive and wonderful parents that support their kids on the field of play but it is the loud and obnoxious mouth that I have to work hard to ignore. I must confess that it distracts me more than it should. I am sure I should be minding my own business but...I can't help it .

Maybe I should sit with my husband up in the far corner of the stands away from everyone else. He definitely has the right idea - and he can see the game better from there.

BUSY-NESS

We are all busy. Sometimes TOO BUSY. It is Sunday and I am not resting on this day. I have a paper due this week for a class, work to do on a second job, major paperwork to do on a volunteer project...blah, blah, blah. Should I give it something up? Should I learn to say NO more? Who knows...but I honestly think that sometimes, these things are some of that which gives our lives worth and meaning when we look at the bigger picture.

The class I'm taking? Art History - because I like art and I should know more. Enhancing my brain power in the second half of my century of life.

The second job - it's not for the money - yet. I'm just helping out my husband with some things at his job - but the money is nice and he can relax a bit.

And the volunteer project? Preparing for a volunteer mission to work with the Bahamas Methodist Habitat on Eleuthera. Because not everyone in the islands lives in paradise.

So I guess some of this is OK. I look on it all and I see that maybe, despite the stress sometimes, the priorities are in the right place. As long as the busy-ness is for the right reasons.

Oh, and I haven't even addressed the fact that it's two months to Christmas.