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Being a sports parent is not for the faint of heart; its an emotional roller coaster filled with exhilarating highs, gut-wrenching lows, unexpected twists, and turns. Having spent two decades as a mother to three budding athletes, I have come to realize that the journey is both immensely rewarding and profoundly challenging. It often brings as many tears and moments of stress as it does joy and celebration.

My relationship with sports-parenting has been a complicated one, marked by love and frustration in equal measure. Those weekends dedicated to youth sports were both magical and maddening. Admittedly, waking up at the crack of dawn to drive an hour to a freezing hockey rink on my precious day off was not my idea of fun. Yet, seeing the sheer joy and sense of accomplishment on my children's faces at the end of a game made all the early mornings worthwhile.

Some weekends were especially hectic, with nine games spread across three kids. I sacrificed my weekends for two decades, tirelessly shuttling them to various sporting events. I often find myself pondering whether all this effort was truly worth it, but deep down I know it has shaped our lives tremendously.

Sports have brought out the absolute best in me as a mother. The thrill of competition and the opportunity to witness years of hard work pay off for my children inspired me to be my best self. I often found myself staying up late crafting posters or designing team shirts for important tournaments. One memorable occasion involved organizing a scavenger hunt themed after Survivor and The Amazing Race for my childrens teams, which they absolutely loved.

My proudest moments as a sports mom were those when my kids triumphed in their games or successfully mastered new skills, particularly when they overcame hardships. I consistently encouraged them to stick with their sports because I recognized the invaluable lessons they would learn along the way.

And learn they did. With my encouragement, they developed a profound understanding of sacrifice, compromise, and sportsmanship. As a parent, witnessing their growth, humility, and unwavering commitment to their sport and team has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

However, being a sports mom has also revealed my flaws. I vividly recall the times my child wasnt included in the power play or was benched entirely, and I found myself silently cursing the coaches. Shamefully, I would occasionally wish for another child to fall ill, just so mine could have a chance to play. Im not proud of those thoughts, but they are part of the reality.

There have been countless moments when I found myself fervently praying for snow to cancel practice, so I wouldnt have to head out in the frigid air at 9 p.m. On several occasions, I was tempted to tell my son that practice was called off, even when that wasnt the case.

Despite the chaos, I wouldnt trade this lifestyle for anything in the world. Being the parent of an athlete is a unique experience; it is a blend of wonderful and awful, rewarding yet heartbreaking, comforting yet frightening.

When our kids step onto the athletic field, a piece of our hearts accompanies them. We share in their victories and grief when they are pulled from a game, cut from a team, or suffer a season-ending injury. Their successes and failures become our own.

Just as sports test our childrens character, they too challenge us as parents. I have passed some of these tests with flying colors, yet I have failed more times than I care to admit. Nevertheless, every failure has imparted important lessons.

Today, I keenly feel the swift passage of time. My second athlete is preparing to head off to college in the fall, which signifies that my days on the sidelines are rapidly dwindling. There isnt a part of me that feels content about this transition, but I take joy in knowing that my children will continue to play and pursue their passions.