Last Thursday I was happily enjoying my sons concert and got a text from my husband, (who normally would be right there with me) that says, " I cannot go this weekend". So now it will be me driving my 2 boys 4 hours away to Eastern National Finals Wrestling Tournament, while he prepares for trial. And I will have a whirlwind of unanticipated activity in the next 72 hours. I informed the boys of the change in plans..I know they would much rather dad go, he actually understands wrestling, sort of, but by now they know you just have to roll with what you you get. The reality is they were stuck with mom. They worked so hard to prepare for this...every night pushing themselves to exhaustion, pushing, pushing..they wanted this, in their hearts and in their minds. By 9pm Friday we were settled in the hotel and they were laying on their backs next to each other on a twin bed with an imaginary electric line between them, that would shock them to death if they crossed it. And they fell asleep...that is when I contacted technical support to try and get on line. Not too much help from technical support. So I called my college daughter for help, but it was 10pm on a Friday night and she tried to help from the fraternity party she was at...and you know what I mean...
I didn't have much time to use the hotel computer anyway, we were in the civic center all day. The boys were prepared. Wrestling is hand to hand combat. A battle. Physical. Giving 100% of everything in their mind and body for 6 minutes. Total effort. Pushing themselves more than they think they can. I see how much they learn about life from this sport. The outcome is mainly a result of their cumulative effort. No excuses. Can't blame the coach, can't blame the ref, can't blame another team mate. They learn to take responsibility. And understand there is always someone better and always someone worse, so they learn how to win and how to lose. The purpose of sports for us is to translate the knowledge gained from sports into knowledge for living life. We are keeping our fingers crossed. Have you gained insights for life from sports?
Great lesson!
ReplyDeletesports give life long lessons. Teamwork, unselfishness, life isn't fair, nor are all competitions...hard work, endurance, oh the list goes on and one. My son was a standout 3 sport athlete, went on to compete at the college level, then over to Europe for "American football" He's learned so much, and so have I. Daughter was 2 sport athlete, and one sport in college..our life is sports! Wrestling is tough, and your boys must be too. How did they fare at the tournament?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! - My kids were in sports too and I agree that they learn very valuable life lessons...good and not so good, win and lose, glory and pain...It's all there, even if they don't see the whole picture right then, they will. xo
ReplyDeleteAnd these guys expend an awful lot of energy that needs to be burned off say nothing of all the other benefits.
ReplyDeleteSports did both my children so much good. I'm glad your boys have found a sport that they love, can excel at, and learn those powerful, all-important life lessons.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
My daughter learned a ton from a team sport (volleyball) and a individual/team sport (track). However, my son wrestled all four years in high school. He and I will both tell anyone that he learned more life lessons from that sport than just about anything else he has done. He just finished his freshman year in college and wrestling helped him neutralize a few situations. He knows what "work ethic" truly means, that he is responsible for himself, you step on the mat and it's all you, no excuses, how brain and brawn work together and a million more. "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy." Dan Gable
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been the parent at those long tournaments before. Loved them and hated them. Wouldn't trade them.
Great post! Our boys are little still but are into sports through school. My husband is a fireman and is gone a lot so I have to go to cross country or baseball. The wonders of motherhood!
ReplyDeleteI've yet to learn a life lesson from sports (unsuprising as I lack most skills in order to actually play them myself) but this was agood post!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm now following you back!
My kids played football and basketball...no wrestling...but they did learn a lot of life lessons from sports, I believe.
ReplyDeleteMy nephews were wrestlers, and their mom thinks they got a lot more than muscles from it!
=)
Thanks for Checking out my blog! I am following you back!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post..we also gained great insights and skills from sports of various kinds.
ReplyDeleteThe individual and team aspects of sports have great life lessons for us all. I'll bet they always remember that trip with you~
ReplyDeleteNo, I have not gained insights from sports. I already knew what it was like being picked last for something and I'd already assumed being hit in the face with a larger rubber ball would be painful. So many memories, all bad. I think I'll go sit in the dark now.
ReplyDeleteSports really are a metaphor for life, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteMy granddaughter just learned (the hard way) that if you stay up all night doing relay for life and have an important dance competition the next day and you screw up... the entire team suffers.
ReplyDeleteGreat & inspiring article!
ReplyDeleteGreat lessons for life.
ReplyDeleteagree, sports can often play a big roll in teaching kids responsibility and how to take account for their own actions amongst other lessons
ReplyDeleteWell done to your boys for training so hard! most admirable of them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't learned much from sports myself, I was not good at them at school so they were a bit of an ordeal for me.
Any type of sport builds character :-).
ReplyDeleteLoved it Anne Marie. So true. Also to trust in yourself. Control the things you can and leave the rest up to God.
ReplyDeleteWondrful post.
ReplyDeleteawesome lesson
ReplyDeleteI think sports (and band) taught both of my children some very valuable lessons. They were both involved with team sports, so I would suspect your boys are getting even more from their experiences.
ReplyDeleteLove the post...but not sure I'd have learned anything from participating in sports at school except that I didn't want to participate :) Your kids sound like a wonderful bunch. Thanks for visiting and joining my blog...yours is marvellous! Smiles - Astrid
ReplyDeleteWell done post - I too learned very little from sports - I avoided anything that remotely resembled team sports! I was small, and very non-athletic, so was always picked last for any team. Add that to my natural lack of ability and you have a recipe for failure! So...I turned to books!
ReplyDeleteAwesome lesson!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic Lesson
ReplyDeletegood lessons for sure!
ReplyDeletei find sports very inspirational. it's a test and when you do test your body, you'd be surprised at how much you can push forward using your mind.
ReplyDeletemy motto is always to finish my race and not give up :)
Excellent lessons! I never played sports myself, but I've learned alot just from my kids.
ReplyDeleteI understand wrestling. I come from a small town known for our wrestling team, 20 time state champs. Very tough sport with so much expected from the athletes. Good luck to your boys! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeletethanks for the sweet comment!
ReplyDeletehttp://underthefluorescents.blogspot.com/
My husband was a big time wrestler in high school and would have continued had he not gotten injured. He loved it for that reason... it was up to him. Not his teammate. And great work ethic and commitment lessons too.
ReplyDeleteSport can keep both the brain and body active. My two girls play table tannis (ping pong).
ReplyDeleteAnnmarie, I love this post. I hope the boys did well. I can remember feeling as badly as my girls if they lost at things...but I always tried to make them know it was okay.Smiles, Susie
ReplyDeleteI learned that winning isn't everything, because I seldom did.
ReplyDeletei def like that you use sports to learn about life...sadly little league this year taught us if you got the money or influence you can get all the 9 year olds to play on your 7-8 team and get away with it...
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I hope your sons did well. My kids all did sports in school.
ReplyDeleteWrestling really is a sport that is totally on oneself. Wrestling was big in our little country school and was probably more popular than basketball. We had a couple of scholarships that were given to the best wrestlers. Great insightful post. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteMy son is a swimmer and a lacrosse player. I think he's learining a lot of team work and individual work ethic with the swimming. He's played basketball and baseball as well, but I would have to say swimming has been my favorite for him. Great post!
ReplyDeleteSports is very inspirational & stress reliever. And yes it help to teach us to be responsible, never give up and trying our best. Hope your kids do great in wrestling. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!
ReplyDeleteWhat an uplifting post! I never really played sports. Just basketball in the front yard with my brothers. It was one way of bonding as siblings and those are good memories for me.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit to not being much of a contact sports person. I have done trampolining and yoga but neither of these are about winning or losing just about concentration and self control...so I guess I have learnt that. Also with the trampolining there is the fact that you have to have total faith in the others who are their with you to stop you falling off the bed if you should put one foot wrong....I think learning trust is a good thing.
ReplyDeletesuch a great lessons...
ReplyDeleteI am not too much into sports though I wish I was. Sports is really good for kids as they get to deal with their energy in a productive way. Good for the health too. Hope you enjoyed staying with them through the whole thing :)
ReplyDeleteAh. My high school was the State champs in wrestling when i was there. the Coach was great to inspire...it made for some good times for those boys. A very individual achievement sport, huh?
ReplyDeleteWe love sports at our house, but wrestling isn't our favorite. The one year my oldest son gave it a try he hated it. The kids were so mean, sucker punching and pinching...he was 10 for crying out loud!
ReplyDeleteSandy
Great post,my kids learn a lot through running and they know they have to work hard to get to where they want to be :)
ReplyDeleteAnd in addition to learning how to win and how to lose, how to be a team player is one I hope both of mine learn some day. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Annmarie, I'm so glad you stopped by my blog and left me a comment so I could find you and come over and read your stories. I do so love a good storyteller, and that description seems to fit you. Thank you for following. I'm now your newest follower as well. I'll be back again to hear the latest tales.
ReplyDeleteLiz
I was a gymnast. I think I gained the most when I STOPPED competing.
ReplyDeleteAs in gaining a bigger ass and thighs :-)
Loved your post! Thanks for stopping by my blog and following. I'm returning the favor. Looking forward to lots of good reading!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent questions...and that is the goal of all our events/activities, isn't it? To learn what God has to teach us about living our lives.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking this up today at Teaching What Is Good.
I'm pretty sure my nephew is wanting to be on wrestling when he gets to high school. I hope it teaches him a few life lessons. He is a sore loser!
ReplyDeleteNo, but every minute I am learning.
ReplyDeleteWeel done! Such a great lesson!If you want we can follow also with bloglovin, fashiolista, google+, twitter and facebook?
ReplyDeleteCome back soon to visit my blog: Cosa mi metto???
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That is so true of sports, and what they teach kids. Helps them out in all aspects of life.
ReplyDeletePaula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
Good for them! Great thing about individual sports like wrestling is that there are NO politics determining an athlete's success or failure.
ReplyDeleteI watched my kids grow in confidence with sports and learning to work as a team was a very valuable lesson that they have taken in to their adult lives and are now passing on to their kids. As for me I learned the same concepts playing games in vacant lots with the neighbor friends.I just didn't realize I was learning something :)
ReplyDeleteOur youngest son lived baseball for 15 years. It was an amazing journey. He pushed himself--we followed. Baseball was our son's life. He received a scholarship to play college ball. There is not a lot of glory in college sports. You practice, study and practice some more. Spend hours lifting weights, get yelled at. Stay in cheap motel rooms. Spend hours on cramped buses etc. You do have all the fancy gear and your laundry is done for you.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing our son did was take a break from baseball and serve a 2 year mission for our church. He came home and realized that there was more to life than baseball. A few months later he was injured and baseball was a thing of the past...
But from baseball he learned that he could do hard, he was no stranger to long hours. So at 23 he is almost finished with school and has his own very successful business.
He is a persons that needs to be physically challenged and busy. Baseball was the perfect avenue for him.
Being a High School Varsity coach, I can definitely relate the experience to life. I tell my soccer players, that if you give up on that white ball today, as small and insignificant as it is, what will you give up on 10 years from now. They learn the value of cooperation which is a necessity these days in the work force. And probably the most important thing that I teach them is based in Romans chapter 5:3-5. "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint..." When tough times come we persevere. When you think you cannot go anymore, we persevere. And when we do, when we push ourselves anyway, it shows the character that we have. And that proven character provides hope. Not only for the individual, but for all those around them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and posting. God Bless!
Encouraging Thoughts for Life
well unlike some people, we consider dancing a sport--i can say that there were lots of lessons taught, some were not so good!
ReplyDeleteWish I had played sports as a ind for those lessons
ReplyDeleteNo! Have not gone there yet with my 9 mo. old and 2 yr. old, but know it's coming--go you for seeking the lessons in the "battle"...
ReplyDeleteI tell my kids the same thing: your sports prepare you to your life. You learn how to win, and you learn how to loose. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for always popping in at A Creative Spirit. You are definitely a blog I am keeping on my blog roll. I love reading about your life. I never dated a wrestler, my brother wasn't a wrestler, my son chose soccer so I never really got wrestling. But in the way you put it, it IS just like all sports, that a lot of lif lessons learned thru participation. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteOur son is in karate and on the football team and is doing really well. He's learned a lot and I'm very impressed with the young man he is becoming. I loved reading about the imaginary line!!! Reminded me of my sister and myself growing up! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteYour post helped me understand what they put into wrestling. I'm not very interested in it as a 'sport' but now I at least appreciate it! Thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter always tells her girls,
"you get what you get, and don't throw a fit"!~ ♥♥♥
Great post. My youngest is a Rugger. Called to be the Varsity Team Captain at 14 when he was in 9th grade. The Saturday before last they lost to one of the top Rugby teams in the nation (high school) and he was enraged. That whole evening he didn't talk to any of us. On my way to Walmart, I called him to come with me. Told him, "Son, this is what life is all about. You win some, you loose some. Loosen up." Wrestling is a tough game. My oldest two were wrestlers. You have to be quick in body and mind. Also strong. These kids still have a lot to learn about life.
ReplyDeleteI think wrestling is one of the best sports for learning discipline, perseverance, maturity, a never-give-up attitude, and so much more. Our pastor is a wrestling coach and he often uses wrestling analogies in his sermons to illustrate a point in the Christian walk.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Annmarie. And absolutely yes, sports have taught myself and my son a great many life lessons. For me and snow skiing: perseverance, go all-in or don't bother, independence, and practice, practice, practice! For my son, it taught him about working with others, planning, and working smarter is often better than working harder, but it helps to do both!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I am loving your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteHow did your sons do in the tournament?
I have 4 sons... 2 are going to be playing in Lil league football this year, I am excited. (: Thanks for stopping by my blog.