Hi, my name is Mrs O, and I am competitive.
For our daughter, all she needs to do is apply her year's worth of PE lessons into one packed morning. In other words, she has to be as swift as she can on her feet when she runs. All other sporting activities are ok, but I didn't just come here to watch her do long jump, high jump, football, javelin and short put. I came to watch her win a race. It's as simple as that. We are not particularly a sporting or athletic family (although my husband will beg to differ), but there is one thing we do have in common. We know we've only got one shot to get it right and win and we will give it a pretty good go. No whining, no whinging, no complaining, no excuses. Just determination and getting on with the task at hand.
I have only ever missed one Sports Day. It was in July 2014. Reason? WORK! I couldn't take the day off as someone else was already on annual leave. That day I almost cried (nothing new), but it was very sad because I try to attend every show, every music recital, every assembly, every Christmas play and every sports day. It's important for us to be present as often as we can just to be a solid support system for all our children. So anyway, as I couldn't go, my husband took the day off and stood in on behalf of the both of us.
Fast forward a year later, I was right there. Front middle and centre cheering my daughter on for every activity. Before we left the house I kept finding myself say things along the lines of, "as long as you participate, I am so proud of you", "as long as you do the best you can, that's all you need to do". Whilst dropping her to school, I started saying "you need to focus, don't get distracted, don't lose concentration, keep your eyes on the track, absolutely nothing else matters, I want you to win a medal for your team, I know you can do it!". I just wanted to encourage her to do her best. On the field, I changed my tune. It was like a movie. I'm one of those typical soccer mums. Nothing else matters to me. I don't really care who is watching me while I embarrass myself screaming encouraging words. While the other parents were gently cheering on the teams and singing "come on girls, come on boys", I'm the mummy at the finish line, standing and screaming "come on G1", "almost at the finish line", "go, go, go", "run like Elijah", and at the end I'm jumping and dancing, shouting "yes, yes, you did it, I am so proud" (she came 2nd - silver).
Today was so much fun. I love seeing my children in a competitive environment. It helps push them and further build their confidence. The push is not For them to be better than the next person, but to be better than their own personal best. And just like her mummy and daddy, G1 showed she's got a competitive spirit in her and I love that.
Be Inspired
xoxo
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