This was one of my first blogs. I was truly inspired that day. I think I should print this out and have it laminated so I can read it regularly when I need a reality check.
07 Dec 08 Sunday
Why We Do It
I was going to spend some time moping about the Lancers losing last night, getting some things off my chest. It was frustrating to listen to it, and I realized I just wanted to be there for the guys and let them know we are still behind them, no matter what. If nothing else, perhaps this was a wake-up call. Most of our players are young and inexperienced at this level. They need to step up their play, and last night was a hard way to learn that lesson.
But I was too tired last night and had to rush around to wash and repack hockey gear for the kids' tourney today. This was our first, and I had no idea what to expect. I'll start by saying how impressed I was with the Sidner. I had no idea Fremont had become a hockey mecca! Did you know the Huskers intramural team plays there? Youth hockey there? All the way up to high school level? I knew the Energy played there, but I figured it was an old barn of a place they used because it was open and convenient. My only complaint was that there wasn't a big enough space as a holding area, but so many locker rooms! This was really cool.
And now, the reason we do this. The kids had an awesome time and got a lot of playing time. It was worth missing practice. All the parents cheering for all the kids, both sides, mingling with other parents from other towns in it for the same reasons....we all just love hockey. The older players in the program came and cheered for our kids. They didn't have to do that, and I don't think anyone told them to. We felt so honored, and we wanted to honor them by staying and cheering for them, too. How cool is it to have someone you've never met calling out your child's name, encouraging them, hi-5ing them, congratulating them? Seeing their smiles all day as they did nothing but play hockey.....no score-keeping, no penalties, just loving being on the ice and doing one of the things they love the most.....
Tucker got to be goalie for the 2nd round of games. He was so excited! That was not our nervous and uncertain little boy anymore. He is now a young man. He was proud and thrilled to try something new, experience every bit of hockey in every way possible. He didn't hear the people calling his name, cheering him on, or see the high school kids right behind him who could have stayed in the hall or locker room. Instead, they were out there cheering for our kids. Our kids who are just starting something they started years ago. I'm sure they were reliving their early days in hockey and thinking about how these kids will fare as they move up. They were calling my son's name. Complimenting him. Cheering for him. What a proud moment. Now that is true sportsmanship and support of your program, and it all did bring a choked up tear to my eye. If anyone saw, I'm sure they knew why. I feel like I'm part of a secret club now.
I had other parents tell me things about my kids that even I didn't know. A lady I didn't even know was calling out Maxine's name. My daughter, cheered on by a stranger. Another telling me she skates well, asking if she is bothered at all being among all those boys. Nope, I said, she is in her element. One mother told me my son is the only reason he stayed with hockey because he offered him encouragement when he came on the ice for the first time. I had no idea.
I feel proud and full of gratitude. Thank you to all the people who put this day together, to all the coaches and other parents, to all the older players, to the strangers we shared a brotherhood with under one roof today. This is why we do it. We share a love of a game the makes us feel free and connected all at the same time.
So...........I have to come back to the Lancers, since I usually try to devote this blog to my thoughts and reflections about them. It is all about hockey and everything I said above. I wonder if the Lancers ever think about how lucky they are and why they do it. Sure, at this level, winning means a lot. Maybe we put too much emphasis on that for them. I don't know. But I hope that when they take the ice they think about all the same things I thought about today watching my kids play for fun. Do they play for fun? Do they hear the voices in the crowd? Is it still worth it, even if they do not win? It's all about heart. Lancers, listen to your heart. Remember why you do it. Remember. Put it into your game. Put it into support of your teammates. It's something you can take with you on the ice and take with you when you leave the ice. It never has to leave you. Isn't this the real reason we have trophies?
Here's what I tell my kids now every time they go on the ice, every time I send them off to school, every time I tuck them into bed: Have a great one. It's a secret code between them and me. Though the words are simple, there's a secret meaning behind them. It's why we do it.
Great skate!
