Below I have posted parents musing on thier kids and youth track. Share your feelings at the bottom of this post.
“I can barely watch my daughter run. I can’t stand the pressure of the race.I have only seen her a few times because of that pressure and I feel like and outsider,a person that doesn’t belong in the stands.I don’t understand the sport much and my husband really doesn’t help me much…He is so busy enjoying the meet he can’t take time to explain. I don’t like that I hear people talking in a negative way about my daughter and other athletes.Spectators can be so cruel and unfeeling. She loves the sport so I support from afar.
This is her last year and probaly her last 2-3 meets as a high school athlete. I am planning to go to the state meet and actually watch with her grandma one last time as a high school student. I probably will close my eyes most of the race but I will watch her cross the finish line first or last it makes me no difference she is a winner always to me”.
“This meet was a hard one for Aria – it was her first meet of the year and she was atypically jittery and nervous. She PRed, but was disappointed in her performances. I find it hard to step back and watch her navigate such personal stakes – and yet I am proud to see her really setting her own goals and expectations. I guess I need to remember that for all the elation the sport can bring — without the disappointments – the elations probably mean less… I am also trying to sit back and allow her to feel her own disappointments which is hard. I think it was really great for her to be at this meet and running with girls her own age. There are very few girls her age running on our team this year and there haven’t been many meets for her – so this was a big deal. I think she is anxious to spend more time with peers and competitors. It is really nice to see such grace and respect amongst the girls Aria’s age – I keep telling Aria that all of these girls will get to know each more and more as the years go by and that they will be knowing each other for years to come…”
“Watching my kids brings me more Joy than almost anything else in the world. I celebrate with them in victory and I cry inside when they don’t meet their expectations. Mine are always met the moment they step on the track”.
“Who knew I would love the throws so much,I didn’t even know what a shot put was 3 years ago!”
“When I watch my kid run it gives me such a sense of pride,I know he is moving in the right direction as a young man,not just a great athlete. I hate to see the losses but I am happy they build his resolve to do more and better. I find it hard to believe he is “my kid some times” I and his mother are his greatest fans.true fans ,not the kind I see at the meets that are fickle and mean”.
As for me I love watching as a parent and a fan.We youth prarents have a unique opportunity actually see who these athletes were and who they will become in the sport we love so much.I applaude all children as I watch them compete and I can get excited for the shot put as much as Lauren’s 200m Championship race. The best part for me is when the kids run up to me and say”did you see me run”,I even have some that look for me first after a race.I think they do this because they know I am their fan to.
Until Next Time
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