Parenting and Footy?

Raising six children had its challenges that's for sure, but it also gave me many life experiences that I may never had have if it were not for my strong, Independent young people!

I often liken parenting to the process of a football game. There are many parts to be played but all have an impact at different stages, this can lead to success or failure.

First stage: Training. (1-4yrs)

Training is hard, it takes a natural action/reaction/habit/behaviour and transforms it to a conventional set of rules. The trainer trains the athlete's body, conditions it, teaches them how to fall, get up and go again. They are trained in resilience, health, time management, behaviour etc

In parenting, we train our children in the correct, socially acceptable behaviours (if we are any sort of parent). We discipline, correct, train and teach.

Second stage: Referee. (5-11yrs)

The Referee controls the game. They run just as much as the players, call timeouts, penalises poor play,  positions the players, and no-one has as much power as the Ref. 

In parenting we do this too. It is very tiring and they run us ragged at times - sport, school functions, camps, friends, sleepovers, teacher interviews, sibling rivalry, music lessons.... the list goes on. We make them eat good food for their health, get enough sleep, choose good friends, do their homework,, You know what I mean!

Third stage: Coaching. (12-16)

The Coach sits on the sideline, belting out instructions, sometimes the players listen, sometimes they don't. The coach claps at times and yells at times. His only goal is success for his players. The locker room comes with much discussion after the game.

As a parent I found this the hardest stage. My children either chose to listen to my instructions or chose not to listen. At this stage of life they start to assert their own free will and knowledge base, they made decisions that often didn't work out. Most of our arguments came at this stage of life because there was an awareness that it was their game now.

Fourth stage: Manager. (17-24)

The manager sits in the coaches box and watches the game, taking notes and giving feedback after the game. 

In parenting we allow our children to make mistakes and talk about them when the young adult is ready to listen and talk. 

The final stage is Friend/Colleague. (25+)

This is when we go the pub with our player and either celebrate the win or commiserate the loss. 

In parenting we become friends, talk, laugh and cry together. We support each other through life. 

I wrote this blog for my daughter Holly, who is currently in the training stage of parenting. Be encouraged Holly, this is the natural journey of all parents weather they know it or not. You are doing great!