Where does the magic happen?
Posted by Michelle Pothier on Thursday, February 2, 2012
I came across this great photo illustration on Facebook of course. Normally I roll my eyes in disdain at those inspirational quips for the masses, but this one I liked.
I like it for the simplicity of the message, no misunderstandings, I like it for the directness of the message and it is absolutely directed all all us. It says the same thing as the side my Lululemon bag which oozes self-righteousness "do one thing every day that scares you". LIke what paying $100 for a pair of pants?
The truth is we spend every waking moment not only in our comfort zone but cocooned there, walled in there, protected there.
Our children likely get very mixed messages in these most modern times. We actually expect them to take no risks whatsoever. They can't play outside unattended, forget walking home from school alone, and then there are the physical risks. Our litigious society has all but eliminated the under-18 risk taker, adventurer. Children are viewed as needing protection from themselves.
So fast-forward to the soccer-ball in the head Participaction commercials, reminding us, taunting us that the 2 days a week Jimmy plays soccer is woefully inadequate. Well?
Parents flock to sports like gymnastics, especially gymnastics to get physical and so they should. The problem is their range of physical literacy is getting bred out them. Children hate to the point of tears and wails to be put outside their comfort zone, either physically or mentally. It's quite the dichotomy to watch unfold in the gym.
Child at home/school= safe, over-protected, over-parented, shielded from failure, given course recovery, safe from any physicality with another child by threat of jail-time.
Child in the gym = asked to stretch and strengthen more every training day, learns new skills, conquers fears, develops sense of confidence separate from the approval of mom/dad, but constantly asked to work outside of feather-lined comfort zone. Which of course is where the magic happens, as coaches we've all seen it happen and we live for it. Parents on the other hand are sometimes so overcome with their own fear that they will inadvertently prevent their young children from experiencing it.
I like it for the simplicity of the message, no misunderstandings, I like it for the directness of the message and it is absolutely directed all all us. It says the same thing as the side my Lululemon bag which oozes self-righteousness "do one thing every day that scares you". LIke what paying $100 for a pair of pants?
The truth is we spend every waking moment not only in our comfort zone but cocooned there, walled in there, protected there.
Our children likely get very mixed messages in these most modern times. We actually expect them to take no risks whatsoever. They can't play outside unattended, forget walking home from school alone, and then there are the physical risks. Our litigious society has all but eliminated the under-18 risk taker, adventurer. Children are viewed as needing protection from themselves.
So fast-forward to the soccer-ball in the head Participaction commercials, reminding us, taunting us that the 2 days a week Jimmy plays soccer is woefully inadequate. Well?
Parents flock to sports like gymnastics, especially gymnastics to get physical and so they should. The problem is their range of physical literacy is getting bred out them. Children hate to the point of tears and wails to be put outside their comfort zone, either physically or mentally. It's quite the dichotomy to watch unfold in the gym.
Child at home/school= safe, over-protected, over-parented, shielded from failure, given course recovery, safe from any physicality with another child by threat of jail-time.
Child in the gym = asked to stretch and strengthen more every training day, learns new skills, conquers fears, develops sense of confidence separate from the approval of mom/dad, but constantly asked to work outside of feather-lined comfort zone. Which of course is where the magic happens, as coaches we've all seen it happen and we live for it. Parents on the other hand are sometimes so overcome with their own fear that they will inadvertently prevent their young children from experiencing it.
