My sons just wrapped up a losing season of flag football. And when I say losing season, I don’t mean more losses than wins, I mean all losses and one tie.
Their team played well. They improved tremendously. They put their hearts into it.
The games weren’t blow outs. They were close. Their team was in it the whole time. Each game could have gone either way.
They could not get a break.
As a parent, when you see your kids trying so hard, playing so well, having fun and holding their heads high, you can’t imagine that the universe is not going to throw them a bone. Just one.
It didn’t.
I seriously considered paying off refs, coaches, other eight year olds just to see the joy on their faces from winning one single game. To see them pile on top of each other. To see them taste sweet victory just once.
I didn’t.
The kids took each loss really well. Much better than I would have.
As much as I wanted them to experience the win, losing is good for them too. Every kid should have a losing season. Every kid should do their best, play hard, have fun, do everything right and still lose.
And every parent should have to watch. It’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. It rips your heart out. But it’s not the end of the world.
We know our kids aren’t going to be collegiate or professional athletes. Most won’t even play in high school. What can they take away from the experience that will make them better people, better members of society?
I think you gain more losing than winning. You learn that no matter what happens, you try your best, have fun, and try again.
So please excuse me when I say,
I hope your kid is a loser.
Great post, so true! Love it.
Thanks Meagan! Cheers to the losers!
We just ended a pretty bad soccer season and it is hard. It is hard to find the right words…but it is good to see them prevail and move on!
I was amazed at how well they handled it. And yes, I was so ready to move on!
It is so true. Hard to see our children struggle and lose, but losing provides us with grit and perspective. I am enjoying checking out your blog. 🙂
Hi again! Nice to see you here. Thanks for coming by and checking out my blog. It was really, really, much harder than I imagined it would be, hard to watch them lose week after week. I’m still feeling a little gritty, but they have long since moved on!