Tough lessons for parents too

I have talked about how sports presents many opportunities to teach kids some tough life lessons. They have to learn how to win, how to lose, how to be a part of a team and fulfill a role that they may not be happy with, how to get along with coaches and team mates that they may not like, and how to deal with poor officiating. They learn how to handle pressure, and poor sportsmanship on the part of opponents. They learn about hard work and commitment.

What about their parents? It can be very hard for a parent to sit back and let a child experience something negative. Learning to let a child get hurt and work through that is extremely difficult for parents. But in my opinion it is beneficial to both parent and child.

A positive and logical discussion can help to ease the pain for parents and children who are going through tough times. This lesson applies to life in general, not just sports. Using the relatively small and fleeting troubles in sports can indeed help a child mature. It can also help a parent grow........

Just as the physical stress of exercise makes bones and muscles stronger, so too does mental and emotional stress make our spirit stronger.