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Let me start out by saying I have 3 young boys (ages 11, 9, 6) who are at that very influential age, and tends to listen to everything that is around them and very much take it to heart, no matter if it is coming from mom and dad or maybe another parent.

They all have different taste and enjoy different sports, which if just great, as that is what makes them unique. I since have learned being involved in these sports with my children, there is ALWAYS going to some person that doesn't think 1 or 2 kids are up to par.

What they don't seem to realize is these kids DO actually have feelings and they DO listen to what is being said. Last week we had a football game, the parents and coaches from the other team got quite upset. It wasn't a very pretty site to see all the yelling at the referee's because, "the call wasn't right". There was cussing and jumping up and down, which finally got the other team a penalty for arguing. Needless to say, it didn't get any better.

After the game my son asked me why they were acting like that, it was just a game. I told him that was correct, it is just a game, and as long as you play your best you should always be proud, as I am always proud as long as he does his best. I must admit, ashamed as I am to say, I have been at practice and saying "you know you can do better than that".

After hearing the coach tell the kids, the way y'all are playing we are going to lose our first game. My son came up to me at water break and said, "hey mom, we are gonna lose, thats what coach said". I have to say I instantly saw red, and informed him that was NOT true. That just put it in his head, oh yeah why even try when we are going to lose.

I never spoke a word to the coach about it, I just informed my son, just because they had a bad practice didn't mean they were going to lose and don't go in thinking like that about a game that hadn't even been played yet. I started thinking about me telling him he could do better and on the way home had a long talk with him and told him I wouldn't say anything like that again, I was proud of him no matter what.

I also explained there was no I in TEAM so they all had to work together and fight amongst each other. It made a lot more sense to him after we had to conversation and made both of us feel much better. I don't want my children growing up thinking yeah its OK if we cuss, yell, argue, and fight in sports. They should have respect for everyone out there playing it. Yes, they are playing to win, I realize

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