The last soccer game of the season was a doozy. My daughter’s (adorably) scrappy team of 6-year-olds were out-numbered, out-sized, and out-played. They held on until the bitter end to earn those post-game high-fives and snacks from the team cooler (the possible true motivation for any field effort).
As Capri Suns popped behind me, I wandered into the uncharted territory of different-colored jerseys and unfamiliar faces: the other team’s side.
I looked for a particular player, then sought out her mom.
“Hi, excuse me. Is this your daughter?” I started. (Confession: I’m not really great at talking to strangers. That’s my mother’s wheelhouse, but somehow the trait bypassed me.)
I saw curiosity and a bit of natural defensiveness cross her face.
“Yes, she is,” she answered uncertainly.
“My daughter’s on the other team,” I plowed forward. “They had a bad collision together. I noticed your daughter stopped for a minute and helped her up. I just wanted to say that was really kind of her, and such a good example. So, thank you.”
Other-team-mom smiled proudly. “Well, thanks. We’ve been talking about sportsmanship lately, so I’m glad to see it’s showing.”
* * *
It feels like a weird quirk, but I love bragging on kids to their moms.
With all of the negative comments, self-doubt, and discipline struggles we navigate as parents, I relish the chance to slip extra evidence to a mom that she’s doing a good job in all of it.
I once overheard two kindergarten boys talking outside of a school. One started making fun of a younger child nearby.
Right as I was crossing the line from “Just mind my own business” to “OK, tough guy, that’s enough” – Boy #2 spoke up.
“Hey, we are supposed to build people up, not tear people down.” Boy #1 stopped immediately. My jaw dropped. I later relayed it to his mom (again, a stranger), and her jaw dropped.
“I can’t believe he said that. I mean, I say it all the time at home when he’s arguing with his sister, but I didn’t know he ever paid attention to it.”
She was doing that day-in-and-day-out work we are all trying to do right: MOTHERING. I witnessed a glimpse of that mama-effort paying off, and saw it as a gift I could share back to her.
If you are the one to catch a moment of those parenting efforts shining through especially bright, say something. Encourage a mama that what she is pouring into her child is sticking somewhere.
Comment on bravery. Comment on empathy. Comment on witnessing a child including others or sharing something or encouraging someone – even if (or maybe, especially if) it makes you step out of your comfort zone for a few minutes to do so.
Make a mama’s jaw drop.
Let her know her mothering is showing, in the best possible way.
I think I “amen” very time I read one of your post. Again, so well written and such great advice. Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely read to start my day !!! A feel good write up with practical advice. Many thanks.