I hope that I will be able to put my kids in little league sports in the next few years, I truly do. I’d love for them to have that experience.
More important to me than that though is teaching them to love and serve the poor, sick and needy. If I have to choose between the two, I know which I will do.
I am disturbed by the comments I hear from some people about how important it is to get your kids into little league and what a bad parent I would be to not sign them up for every sport in the book.
Here’s my response to those people:
- You think that I am depriving my children by not signing them up for every sport I can find
- I know I’m teaching them valuable lessons by letting them go out and minister to the homeless with me
- You think that children need to be part of a sports team to learn teamwork
- My children learn teamwork by working together to make and distribute lunches to the homeless
- You say that you want your child to enjoy the thrill of hitting a home run
- I want my children to experience the thrill of leading one of our homeless friends to Christ
- You don’t want your children to miss out on part of the American experience
- I don’t want my children to forget what’s REALLY important
- You spend hours cheering your children on from the bleachers
- I hold my children’s hands as we walk across the tracks to reach tent city
- You spend all kinds of money on league fees and uniforms
- I teach my children to give even out of the little that we have
- You hope that sports will help your children develop an aggressive ‘go-getter’ attitude
- I hope that my children will learn to love the unlovable and care for the rejected
- Your children will have memories that will last for a lifetime
- My children will have memories that will last for all eternity
As I said, if I can, I’ll let my kids get involved in all kinds of sports… but if I have to choose, then there’s just no contest!
As a parent of Gen Xers, I would sure like some do-overs in many areas. Can you arrange that for me? Yeah, I sorta messed up. Praise God for grace.
Beautiful post, Peter P!
Ah. The difference in competitive teamwork and collaborative teamwork…..
I do think it is great for kids to be involved in a sport, but not so involved that it is the be all and end all. I think you have the right attitude.
“Balance in everything. Nothing to excess.” I don’t know but that sounds vaguely familiar. I think some guy named Paul may have written that down somewhere.
There is the issue of self-esteem and the successes that children see in their peers and want to immolate for themselves. When you get there Peter, I think you will find this parenting quandry more perplexing than it now seems. Our kids are limited to a given number of sports activities per year in order to maintain balance for all of us. I’m not sure this is right, but it is what we are working on for now.
Great thoughts Peter! I am totally with you on this one.
This is a tough one to fight through on all sides and I know won’t make anyone very popular. Parents who do sign up their kids for every sport imaginable then neglect church, serving, family, school or any number of things to run themselves ragged and then wonder where their strength went. Some want to give their children everything, but we have a wise Father who shows us the way to handle our own (even if it’s difficult many times). We establish priorities and teach them how to live. What are we showing them?
This is something that needs to be talked about more.
Good Post Peter.
Thanks for all your encouraging comments thus far guys, I’m sorry I wasn’t around yesterday to respond individually!