Winning Is Everything.  

 

Whoa … Wait! What will everyone say with that attitude … Winning is not everything. 

Nope, Never mind, Winning Is Everything?

 

As a parent of a gradually and increasingly competitive 6 Novice, it’s hard to keep all of this in perspective, am I right?   Especially when said parent is super competitive, grew up playing both organized and individual competitive sports and had parents who’d “YANK” me out if I wasn’t performing.  (I may be remembering it harsher than reality would show)

However, week after week our son keeps showing increased interest and enthusiasm towards racing BMX … and I love it.  The competition, the hard work, the bonds he’ll be able to create with his fellow competitors.  Seeing the growth already in sportsmanship, accountability, desire to succeed and mental toughness is a dream come true.  #Don’tMissRecSoccer, #trophiesarenotforeveryone

But this is where it’s starting to get hard.  Yes, hard.  Yea, yea I know … I shouldn’t be complaining … but this BMX stuff, as a parent IS HARD.  (And I know I’m not the only one who thinks this!)

 

Let’s start with …Winning isn’t everything, winning graciously is more like it … and only now as a parent I can truly appreciate this and how my parents raised me to deal with this. 

We continue to work on things, but the complexity is astounding.  It blows me away how these little tykes are able to comprehend as well as listen to, adapt to and implement these benchmarks:   

  1. Encourage competitive spirit and the will to succeed WHILE
  2. Being supportive of our friends and fellow competitors WHILE
  3. Persevering through the defeats AND
  4. Being humble, supportive and not that classic “a-hole” jock in victory

Stop, read that last part back.  

Holy crap, doesn't it sound like you're being asked to accept a graduate class thesis assignment with that checklist?!  Clearly, there’s a whole lot of LIFE all rolled up in a 60 second race around a dirt track.

The best part is while my son get’s to learn these lessons; I do as well, all over again and from a whole new perspective.  Awesomesauce.

Back to this #Winning nonesnse.  I sincerely hope every parent has the inner (and maybe outer) dialogue of “I hope it’s my kid who wins” because I know that's what we're thinking.  

OMG! Whew, it’s finaly out there!  It's out in the open.  No hiding from it, no beating around those proverbial bushes.  I want my kid to win!   And there’s nothing wrong with that, nothing to be ashamed of, embarrassed for or guilty about.  I’ll celebrate with you in victory and be there to support in defeat, as I know you’ll do the same for us.   So we're good?  I'm good ... good ;)  Boom! Now let's move on.  

(Because really, at the end of the day, this “HARD STUFF” we’re dealing with … is some of the most important stuff around.) 

I have a ton of quotes from coaches and mentors and people about winning, practicing, keeping your head up ... but this qoute from Walter Elliot seems to strike the right chord.

  • “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” -Walter Elliot

So are we there yet … and winning?  I guess we’ll have to just wait and see.

 

photo by Jason Velliquette