It was 6 minutes 35 seconds left in the game he drives down the court ready to pass the ball, they scramble to get open, they couldn't get open so what's he left to do? He shoots, he scores!! Rahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Go Hornets! Go Jerry!! I sit there calm with my hands on my face in awe, take a deep breath as the adrenaline rushes through my body! My baby boy! (ok he is 11 not a baby but always my baby). A mom sits next to me and asks "how long has your son been playing ball?" I say "he has been playing with his club since he was 4" and turn around. She continues to say "well my son loves to play but I didn't allow him to because we chose to focus on his education". Errrrk, stop the press....I look over to CJ and he just looks at me, shakes his head and then gives me that look like "oh crap she is about to go IN on her". I surprise myself and my hubby, I say nothing! I am stunned and in shock, did she just say that? I could have 'went in' on her and say "As if I have not focused on my son's education?". I was a STUDENT ATHLETE in junior high and high school so trust I understand what it means to be just that. My son loves to play ball and I won't deny him that. Education is the key, the foundation in our household as in many others so the audacity for her to imply that it wasn't a priority for us was out of line! But I won't apologize.
Being actively involved in youth sports since my son was four I have seen so many things and I have learned that their are so many opinions. No one persons opinions are more true than the next.
I won't apologize for being that Mom; that runs the clock during games, brings snack on my assigned day, participates in a carpool system, buys swag for my boys, cooks pre-dinner meals, brings sandwiches for all the kids to eat. Oh and definitely won't apologize for yelling too loud, for participating in the team chant "where my dawgs at?????", for waking early up anxious for the days games. Praying for the safety of kids, no injuries. I won't apologize for demanding my son to BE THE BEST and put forth his best effort during practice and game day!
I won't apologize for emailing my sons teachers day in and day out, for participating on the PTO, for carpooling kids from school to practice, for expecting a response from teachers, for volunteering my time, staying up until 11pm helping with homework, for expecting my son to work hard and ask questions. I won't apologize for demanding my son to BE THE BEST and put forth his best effort during homework time and test day!
I won't apologize for requesting that my son hang up this quote in his school locker, above his homework desk and on his sports wall:
"It's not about perfect. Its about effort. And when you implement that effort into your life...every single day, that's where transformation happens. That's how change occurs. Keep going. Remember why you started." author unknown.
I don't apologize because when the teacher emails me and says "I’m just so excited and wanted to email you right away to tell you that he got a 94 on his big test today!! I am so proud of him and I know he totally deserves it!"
And when the teacher emails me and says "Your son won student of the week for his hard work and growth".
Or when his Coaches say "We need your son, he is an asset to the team"
I don't need to apologize for being a good Parent to MY children!
