The Olympics are always inspiring for me. Having played sports in high school and college, I know a bit of the time and effort and focus needed to perform at a high level. While I can't claim to have ever performed at a "high level" I know how much work it took for my mediocrity which makes Olympians all the more remarkable. Seriously, if they started giving medals for working hard but achieving little in athletics I would be world class.
Anyway, I watched the Olympics and then watched my kids try various athletic feats and realized that when it comes to athletics I am raising some very average children. It has forced me to give up on living vicariously through my children pretty early on in my parenting.
My oldest is all skin and bones and floppy limbs as she runs, swims, breathes, etc. Reminds me of my own awkwardness as a child in a not so heartwarming or nostalgic way. Like me, she will end up lettering in sports simply for faithfully showing up. Her hard work will likely produce a harvest of righteousness and zero gold medals.
My middle child, who thinks she is as graceful and elegant as a swan, showed me her "dives" which were really high speed belly flops. Like knock-the-wind-out-of-you flops. At age 6 she still runs into walls. She read three books before breakfast this morning so she has other contributions to make to the world but athletics doesn't seem to hold much promise right now.
I am holding out hope for my youngest because he is adopted and carries some different genes. At 3 he has better dance moves and hand-eye coordination than his sisters but the bar has been set so low I don't know if besting them moves him out of "average". I grew up in a tall family and played sports for big frames so with my son I am considering looking into some sports better suited for the vertically challenged.
Having my own life full of athletic mediocrity makes this early assessment of my children's future in sports a bit easier. While trips to the Olympics are probably out of the picture I do think that even in our average-ness there is much to be learned and celebrated about the effort and journey along the way.
As a parent I want be prepared to teach my kids the value of hard work especially when results don't come easily or praise doesn't come often. There is tremendous value to struggling, fighting and persevering. Please don't ever give my kids a participation award. That doesn't require anything special from them. Just getting to show up is a gift and doesn't deserve an award.
I also want my kids to learn to care for their bodies whether they are long and awkward or squishy and rounded or short and compact (my three kids in order). There is something precious to the gifts of life and breath and movement that should never be taken for granted. Our bodies are given by God and our use of them can bring Him glory.
In a small house my kids are already learning about the struggles of working together but there is something unique that happens in sports and athletics as you labor alongside others towards a common goal. Mediocre or not, everyone on a team has a contribution to make. Athletics were tremendously helpful for my own self discovery and self awareness as I processed how I fit in and what I could add to a team.
Hidden in average contributions are beautiful lessons on life, work, discipline, teamwork, and sacrifice. I want my wonderfully average children to learn those things whether they ever achieve "success" or not. I want my children to not be driven by idols of success or popularity or body type but by the desire for virtue and strength of character.
In the next few years my kids will probably begin playing sports if for no other reason than my wife and I will need some help tiring them out and getting them out of the house. My prayer is that I would push them hard to grow in character and virtue regardless of outcomes. I want to let them know that success, while wonderful, is a terrible thing to be stuck chasing if it doesn't produce something in you that can actually be kept for a lifetime.
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