Sports- be the best at being YOU

I have been thinking about sports lately. I LOVE SPORTS! I could sit at the soccer fields for an entire day (not even watching my own kids - or even anyone I knew) I enjoy the skill, the teamwork, and the vitality each player posesses.

Most people have started asking how we picked what each boy would play when they got older.
So here was our RULE...when the boys turned age 5 for the entire year (until they were 6) they could try any sport they wanted to (basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, gymnastics, etc.) After that we asked that they pick their favorite sport, NOT what they were good at.

Jacob as we all know was great at soccer and he picked that...now he still sulks when it's basketball season and he's not playing anything...but oh well (he'll get over it) He is now in classic soccer playing kids 4 years older.

Kobie picked basketball...he was GREAT at baseball...moving up in one season from tee ball to pitching machine when he was 5/6 b/c he was cracking them to the fence...problem with baseball...the child cannot stay up past 7:30pm. He wants to try Gymnastics so we were going to try that. Kobie doesn't really like competitive sports, and he asked to play bass guitar, so now we are going that direction.

Dylan has played primarly soccer and basketball. He is really a loner. He is great at everything he does...But he's just not motivated. So will see in a few years how he develops. He is sitting out this season of soccer for two reasons.
1.) to let Adam and I get used to traveling with Jacob's soccer team and
2.) b/c Adam & I were taking a break from 6 years of coaching soccer (which we had decided on years ago-when the kids were done with micro we would take a break) I know some of you are looking at 6 years...and thinking Jacob is just 9 and micro doesn't start until 4/5...well we coached a LW U14 team...YES, I had three babies to care for...but I told you we loved to watch soccer and to teach it (for those who are willing to learn- some of those kids weren't- and some were, we still go try and watch them play now at the HS level and admire how far they've come)

All of our boys picked their favorite. It was their choice and we support them. These sports are what they do individually, but when we go to the park we play all kinds of sports, not being limited to just one. Injuries are a very constant thought in our minds as my husband and I played many sports growing up and then we were set on soccer and track during HS...we have both had broken ankles and have knee problems. I still run 5k's to 1/2 marathon's and he still is in a mens soccer league...

Showing our kids how to live a healthy lifestyle with balance is all that should matter... we should show them how to work well with others and have relationships with people. That's the true meaning of sports for me...not to be the best at everything, but be the best at being YOU!
As Adam says, "I don't care what you want to become when you grow up...be the best Garbage man, be the best Dad, be the best Lawyer, whatever you want to do, give it your all!"