Years ago, I remember getting excited about the month of March. I mean, it’s a month where the weather (usually) gets warmer, and smack dab in the middle of it is one of the best “Holidays” in the world. I used to actually have time to enjoy St Patricks Day. But now it seems that no matter what day it falls on, I have to be some where to do some thing, and before I know it the day is over and I find myself at the island in the kitchen with a pressurized can of Guiness and a sidebar of Jamesons. That sounds pretty good doesn’t it.
But that’s not why I don’t get excited about March anymore. March, as you know, has become the month in which kids are “evaluated” for upcoming spring sports. (I could pretty much end the blog right here and you’d all know what I mean). It’s amazing how early the crap starts. I think people started talking about where their kids were going to try out for hockey next year in January. So by the time we actually get to the month of March, I’m so done with it I feel like yelling YOUR KID SUCKS, just like mine and every other kid out there. Now GET OVER IT.
But that wouldn’t be fair, because it’s not really true. Our kids are pretty good little athletes. Put em against other towns and I like our chances. Every time. So it’s probably more appropriate to direct a rant at ourselves, the parents. Afterall, we’re the ones (present company included) who make this process such a nightmare. Like it or not, we’re all guilty of bitching about something during the process, or convincing ourselves they should try out somewhere else for next season etc…. And you know why we do it? Because we’re human. We want what’s best for our kids, and sometimes that clouds the reality of what is actually best for our kids.
Wow, deep thoughts by the Commish, right? Well, I thought I was going to lose it last night when a Dad called me for advice on how to deal with the fact that his kid was put into a lower group during tryouts. But then I remembered how I called someone 4 years ago when my kid was a second year mite and I thought it was going to be the end of the world if he didn’t make the better team. He was a MITE. That’s when I realized last nights call was a case of what comes around, goes around, so I talked him in off the ledge, just as someone had done for me 48 months earlier. And that’s the point. Each season we’re all going to get to the point where we need to do some bitching. Bitching is ok. The thing we have to be careful of is when one of us gets out of control and falls into a Bitching Spiral that can’t be stopped. (We all know one of these people). When this happens, do one of two things. 1. Address it with the person and get them out of the Bitching Spiral. Or 2. Notify the rest of us about their condition so we can avoid them.
Sound like a game plan?
Great.
Here’s a little Will Ferrell – Crazy Coach, taking you into the weekend.