I had one of those moments today.In recent years (maybe I can attribute it to turning 40) my emotions have really leveled out and rarely can things get to me like they used to 10, 15 and 20 years ago.
But today, I became (on the inside, anyway) one of those parents we all hate to see - the kind that gets WAY too emotionally involved with their kids' sports team.
Molly's last AAU basketball game was today. Her team was seated third in the tournament and the team they were to play first was definitely beatable. After a really good season with a few wins and a few losses, we really thought they could beat this team. And they could have. However...
The regular coach couldn't be there today because he was visiting his daughter who is playing basketball in college (we told him his priorities were out of whack, but he went anyway - can you imagine?) ;)
Consequently, one of the dads stepped in to coach the team - a very outspoken dad, I might add, who often comes to practices and interrupts the regular coach with lots of helpful advice for the team. Are you hearing my tone?
I also might add that this particular dad's daughter is the one player on the team who really doesn't seem to belong there. She won't do what the coach tells her, she can't keep up with the rest of the team, and she often gets in the way of her own players. It's sad, really, but it's a competitive league, and it is what it is.
Today, our team was ahead at the half and we were gaining momentum. After the half, one of our girls got hurt, and then another. Although we still had plenty of players, the coach/dad decided to keep his daughter in for the remainder of the game. It was utterly ludicrous. Even by-standers and parents from the other team were asking why this girl, who obviously couldn't play, was still on the court each time subs were called in or out. All the parents were so angry and we all wanted to say something, but we've had such a good season with such great relationships all around, that we chickened out.
Though I had plenty of evil thoughts of my own, I had plenty of help, listening to all the disgruntled parents around me. I was furious with this coach who seemed to be systematically destroying our shot at the tournament.
It was no surprise that we lost by 12 points. I wanted to go up and give the smiling coach (ugh) a piece of my mind, but I held it in. The rest of the girls on the team were also visibly upset and the parents were fueling their fire.
In the car on the way home, Molly and I vented to each other about the whole thing and said things we shouldn't have said, thought things we shouldn't have thought. But we did get it out of our systems.
In the end, it WAS just a game and it wasn't THAT big of a deal. People make mistakes and things happen. In the big picture, it just doesn't matter.
But... I was surprised at how quickly my emotions got away from me and I totally lost sight of that.
I guess I'm not so grown up after all.
Copyright © 2007 - Paulla Estes
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