A Real Champion

allwomenstalk


Chicken Soup for The Soul

I was one of the lucky ones even though I was getting a little older and my dreams of athletic glory were behind me. I was still given opportunity of watching the 1988 Summer Olympic Games with my parents. 


My dad was battling cancer at the time.

My supportive mom served brownies and milk as we watched brawny athletes shatter word records. It was a very exciting and emotional time for me.

While I sat with my parents watching the track-and-field competition, cheering for the American athletes, my father asked, “Know what’s wrong with the world? They don’t give gold medals to the best parents.”

It was a very casual comment, but I could tell my father was serious.

Since my dad’s death in 1990, I’ve often wondered why our society doesn’t give to the people who play the most important role. 


Being a great parent isn’t a competition that can be translated into a dash, a dive or a contest. Like the training of Olympic athletes, the very nature of the task takes years and years of effort, sacrifice and commitment. But is cannot be condensed in a 10 second dash, four-lap swim or a pole vault.

Judges don’t raise scorecards into the air every time parents give perfect counsel or make another sacrifice for a child they love. 


If they did give out awards for parenting, I know one father and one mother I’d nominate for the gold medal.

How about you? Would you qualify?

If not, maybe it’s time to start training and get into shape. It’s a marathon race, and only the strong survive and thrive.