Football Apologies and Thanks

To my daughter and the other eighteen daughters on your cheerleading squad, you deserve an apology.  You are learning synchronization, how to smile in a crowd, the rules of football.  You are proud to put on matching uniforms, to make new friends, to stand in the crisp, fall air.  You are all beautiful with rosy cheeks and swinging ponytails in the autumn sun.  You push yourself to finish push-ups for each point, no matter how high the score gets for your team.  You do not deserve to hear the overzealous father behind me denigrating your hard work and pleasure, by yelling to his son, “If you can’t knock him on his back, there’s an extra set of pom-poms for you on the side!” You girls are strong, worthy, and your sport makes me proud.

To my son and all of the first- and second-grade players on his team and the opposing team in flag football, you deserve thanks.  You are learning the rules to a game while tackling fundamental coordination skills of running while holding an object bigger than your head.  You are excited to giggle with teammates on the sidelines, completely ignoring what is happening on the field.  Your carefree stares and proud grins at the throngs of parents yelling cheers as you all run in a herd, the wrong way, are enviable. Each play takes longer because once you pull an opponent’s flag, you sprint around the field, playing chase to politely return the flag to its owner, then struggle to help each other reattach it to the belt. We have not yet demanded you trade in your humanity for shoulder pads to tackle one another, then walk away.  You are vibrant, energetic, and your sportsmanship should make you proud.

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