My boys have been involved in organized sports for twelve years. My husband was a coach for a number of those years. I know that many readers will be able to relate to all that is involved in this aspect of life–the good, the bad and the ugly! Allow me to take off my “stylist hat” for a few paragraphs. It will all come back to fashion with a couple of outfit layouts in upcoming posts.
I have no regrets about our involvement in club sports/school sports. The kids have learned some valuable life lessons that only this type of experience can teach. Between two boys it’s been soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and golf. And one even tried wrestling…We and they have been around. The upside? You meet some great people. The downside? A certain segment of that parent population take it all a little too seriously. Oh, the stories I could tell. I’ve always had a secret ambition to write, “True Short Stories of a Sports Mom”. It would be most entertaining. I would have to change names or move away. It would have made the perfect blog back in the day when most people, myself included, had never heard of a blog.
You see, my children are average to above average athletes. My husband and I have been very mindful of this from Day 1. My kids have played with some talented athletes–local “stars”. Mixed in were those who THOUGHT their kids were stars. I’ve sat and listened to parents boasting. I’ve smiled, shook my head, and bit my tongue. As a sports family, we’ve been involved in some unbelievable situations.
It came full circle this fall when my college freshman chose to write an English paper about one of those experiences. Oh how interesting it was as a parent to read this perspective six years later! Of course it brought out a sports mom “instinct” that is difficult to describe in words. Can I tell you how many e-mails I wrote or conversations with coaches I formulated in my mind? Most were never sent and most of the time I sat back, muttered to myself or a friend and walked away.
I could handle the fact that parents were probably talking about my kids/husband behind my back. What I couldn’t handle were things being said when I was sitting on the bleachers. A few of my comebacks still make the family ”Remember when” stories…
Back in September when I featured Barbara Hill Photography, I mentioned golf photos. Several of you asked me off/on the blog to send them. I love to show off the work and promote those who have agreed to be featured on Style by Karen. It’s a rainy day in the Northwest; I enjoyed looking at these again.
High School Golf is not a “Glory” sport. It does not get the same press as Football and Basketball or even Soccer. You have to dig in the local paper to find golf. Although I don’t play myself (believe me, they’ve tried) I so appreciate what this game has taught my kids. Golf is a game of ups and downs. My kids have had their share of each. Despite team and All League awards, a trip to state, an occasional mention in the paper, they will probably not be remembered as the top local golfers.
At one match this year, my husband was approached by a coach from an opposing school. He wanted to confirm if he was the dad of Ethan, our oldest. The coach complimented our son (who graduated) not only on his play, but his sportsmanship, demeanor and the gentleman he was off/on the course. To us, that was an achievement that far outweighs local press and awards.
Back to fashion: I’ve sat frozen through so many events. I’m eager to share some finds that will help you stay warm, not look too dressed up, yet stylish as a sports mom!
Karen, thank you for sharing. Not only have I watched my boy learn life lessons from sports but I’ve learned a few myself. Being a “Crazy Football Mom” there have been times I’ve taken things a bit too seriously. I’ve written more than my share of emails and speechs in my mind that weren’t delivered (well, and some that were!). When it’s all said and done, I hope that my boy has fond memories and life lessons he can use along the way. I’m looking forward to your post about being a stylin’ sports Mom; wrestling is right around the corner!
Karen, I so appreciated your post today! We are young in the “lives of sporting parents” as our youngest has only been in sports for about 4 years…so we have many years ahead of us! But, I look back to my own years of sports and the role my parents played…one of support, encouragement, a listening ear and a commitment to helping me learn life lessons thru sports. There were many a parents who were more interested in their kids playing the most, screaming from the sidelines and winning. Sports have so many positive opportunities to teach our kids about life…hopefully more parents take that to heart!!
I am soooo excited to read your post about “Stylish Sports Moms”!
Thank your Mollie and Noelle for your comments! And I’m going to do my best to show some practical yet stylish options for you.
Karen~ All of the words in your blog today could have been coming from my mouth as well. : ) My son is a freshman in high school now but has played organized sports since he was a first grader. My husband coached all of those years. I too have felt the sting of things being said about my husband and son while I was sitting just a few feet away. For us, baseball was the toughest. My husband has moved on now to coaching high school cross country and track and field and, I must say, it is a bit of a welcome reprieve from baseball. : ) My son will continue to play organized sports, my husband will continue to coach, and I will continue to support them both. I love sports, I love what they have taught my son, and I appreciate the things that I have learned about the human character. : )
I love the golf pic’s of your men! I look forward to some fashion advice for watching sports in not always favorable weather!
Thanks for sharing Renee! I have an idea there are many out there who feel the same way. I too can look back and say I’ve learned a great deal–about many things:) Despite the drama sometimes, I have no regrets! Glad you have found two sports that are a welcome change. Baseball can be brutal!
What handsome,handsome men. All of them!
And, I too, had average/above average athletes. I’ve still got the scars on my tongue.
Thanks, Karen.
Karen, I’m really looking forward to reading your blog about dressing as a sports mom. I alwayys feel frumpy at games wearing my big (too big now) sweatshirts. I want to look stylish, without going overboard. I’ve been a sports mom for 7 years, and I have many years left to go. We do sports year round. Between baseball, soccer, and wrestling, there is always something going on.
I was anxious to see your pictures, they turned out great! I’m looking forward to my family photo shoot with Barb Hill very soon!
Hi Karen! You’ve touched on a subject very near and dear to my heart! I can’t wait to hear all of the fashion advice that you have to dish out to all the sports mom’s. As a wrestling mom and having a superstar myself, I encourage all sports mom’s to hold a lia sophia fashion jewelry fundraiser for their team. That way we can help one team at a time earn money and look more like a “fashionably fresh sporty mom.” I held 2 lia sophia fundraisers for Camas High School wrestling team. I had fashion challenged mom’s ask me for accessory advice and by the end of the season are moms’ were looking pretty put together. (It was very interesting that the frumpiest opinionated mom’s transformed into a more confident less verbal moms’)
What a nice looking family you have! It sounds like your sons have learned some good life lessons on the golf course.