Life Lessons and Sports

We are just about knee deep in spring sports. Lots of baseball, softball and soccer going on every day in our household here. And, it's got me thinking about how much sports taught me about the real world. Think about it. There are so many situations that relate to the workforce that are so important and my kids are learning these now. But Austen is at an especially pivotal age where these lessons are going to stick with him.

Number 1 is time management. Austen learned this from a young age as he has the most sports but as he's gotten older it's become more difficult too. He easily has 2 1/2 to 3 hours of homework every night for a 6th grader! Crazy! But I'm confident this will pay off for him in the future too as I've already seen how well he manages his very limited time.

Number 2 is how to be a team player and a leader on the field. Your teammate lets in a goal or strikes out, how do you pick them up when they are feeling terrible? Do you grab the ball irritated that they let an easy one in or do you put a hand on their shoulder tell them to shake it off and get the next one? What kind of teammate will you be and what kind of leader will you become? Austen is learning how to be more vocal with this teammates especially in soccer where the others look to him as one of the leaders on the field. He's not the most rah rah kind of kid, but if he wants that role, he needs to be.

Number 3 is mental toughness. This is huge. How do you pick yourself up from striking out, being in a slump, making a bad play or having a bad game? Do you think woe is me and cry your eyes out or do you work hard to get better and figure out what you have to do to make it happen? This is what Austen and many kids struggle with the most. Many of Austen's teammates in baseball and soccer get pissed. They swear, they kick the dirt or a goal post, they throw their gloves, they cry. Austen has learned to reign in this type of emotion over the last two years thanks to a baseball coach who told them all to quit crying or they were going to get made fun of or beat up when they got older. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't cry in the car or at home. That doesn't mean that he doesn't beat himself up for missing a goal he should have had or striking out at bat. How do you come back from adversity? How do you press the reset button, shake it off and persevere? It's hard for an adult. So I know it's tough for a 12 year old. We're working on lots of positive self talk. It's a struggle.

Number 4 is hard work pays off. There's not a lot of time between homework, games and practices so Austen does not have a lot of free time with his friends who do not play sports with him. Sometimes I feel sorry for him as I see his texts from friends asking if he can go to town or to a movie and his answer always is, I have a game or a practice. Austen's friends are diverse. Some are sporty. Others are not. They apparently have a lot more time than he does. At any rate, he needs to practice his swing when he's not at a practice or a game or doing homework. Whether it's soccer, baseball or lacrosse, there is always something to practice. And it's not that video game Fort Nite either! You work hard, you're likely to be rewarded. Hard work pays off. It's my "Mom-tra."

There are many more life lessons, I'm sure Austen will learn from sports over the next several years. All important lessons. Lessons he'll carry with him into his first job someday. And, because of sports and our guidance, he'll be ready.