This fall, my daughter Audrey made a choice that taught me an important parenting lesson. She’s always been a soccer player; travel teams, school teams and plenty of talent. But instead of joining her friends on the soccer field this year, she decided to try something completely new: cross-country.
At first, I’ll admit, I wondered how it would go. She had never run on a team before, and soccer was safe and familiar. But watching her step into a new sport showed me something I hadn’t seen before ... real hunger.
After her first mile time trial, Audrey came home frustrated. She ran 6:30, beat everyone, but wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to do it again. She knew she could do better. And in that moment, it clicked for me: this wasn’t about times or places, it was about passion. She cared.
Parents, that’s the heart of it. When our kids find the activity that lights them up, we don’t have to push. They’ll push themselves.
A Few Takeaways
- Let them explore. Even if your child is good at one sport, give them the freedom to try something different. Sometimes a new challenge brings out a whole new level of commitment.
- Pay attention to their energy. You’ll know when it’s theirs. Excitement, frustration, determination; those are signs they care.
- Be patient. It may take time for them to land on the thing that truly clicks. Trust that they’ll show you when they do.
At her very first race, Audrey finished first and cut 15 seconds off her time. But what mattered most wasn’t the win, it was the fire in her eyes afterward! For the first time, she wasn’t just playing a sport. She was invested in it.
So here’s my advice: step back, watch closely and let your kids drive the bus. When they’re ready, they’ll take the wheel; and you’ll get a front row seat to their passion.