Comments on: Cross Country is a Grueling High School Sport http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/ Real life. Real lessons. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:47:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SherraLifeLesson.com » New Four Letter Words http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-7101 SherraLifeLesson.com » New Four Letter Words Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:31:53 +0000 http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/#comment-7101 [...] it was more fun to watch than cross country don’t you [...] [...] it was more fun to watch than cross country don’t you [...]

]]> By: Sherra http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-985 Sherra Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:53:01 +0000 http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/#comment-985 Kerri » From Pee Wee leagues to high school athletics, it is shameful and I wish I had a solution other than teaching our kids that it's a big, bad world and they have to learn how to deal with it. Of course, many of the problems of the world hinge on the fact that ADULTS can't get along and don't handle themselves appropriately…so how can we expect children know how? julieann » Thanks for encouragement - it is very hard to ignore when their cheering voice takes on the form of screaming in your child's ear DURING the race. I'll contain myself now and agree that they are very unhappy people who thrive on trying to make others as unhappy as they are. Kerri » From Pee Wee leagues to high school athletics, it is shameful and I wish I had a solution other than teaching our kids that it’s a big, bad world and they have to learn how to deal with it. Of course, many of the problems of the world hinge on the fact that ADULTS can’t get along and don’t handle themselves appropriately…so how can we expect children know how?

julieann » Thanks for encouragement – it is very hard to ignore when their cheering voice takes on the form of screaming in your child’s ear DURING the race. I’ll contain myself now and agree that they are very unhappy people who thrive on trying to make others as unhappy as they are.

]]> By: julieann http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-982 julieann Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:31:07 +0000 http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/#comment-982 I feel your x/c pain, as I have runners in my household, too. In fact I spent my last year in GA coaching a small school's x/c team. You have to purposefully ignore the "bad apples." There will be some no matter how hard you try. They are unhappy people who are seeking an outlet for their frustrations and they have (unfortunately) perched upon your team/child. It's good to point out to the injured child that these are unhappy people who just happen to be in their midst at the moment, and if they weren't they'd be elsewhere complaining about traffic or the cost of gas or their sorry childhood or whatever their mind could seize upon at the time. It's not personal; your child just happened to be available, that's all. Stick that parent with your brightest wattage toothy southern smile and say something along the lines of, "Well, we brought along our cheering voice today, didn't we?" Follow that comment with a wink and leave them wondering if they have just been insulted or flattered. Sometimes this approach wasn't enough for me. Whenever our basketball team would lose to another team who weren't good sports I'd always tell my girls, "Don't sweat it. At least all the girls on our team can get prom dates." I feel your x/c pain, as I have runners in my household, too. In fact I spent my last year in GA coaching a small school’s x/c team. You have to purposefully ignore the “bad apples.” There will be some no matter how hard you try. They are unhappy people who are seeking an outlet for their frustrations and they have (unfortunately) perched upon your team/child. It’s good to point out to the injured child that these are unhappy people who just happen to be in their midst at the moment, and if they weren’t they’d be elsewhere complaining about traffic or the cost of gas or their sorry childhood or whatever their mind could seize upon at the time. It’s not personal; your child just happened to be available, that’s all. Stick that parent with your brightest wattage toothy southern smile and say something along the lines of, “Well, we brought along our cheering voice today, didn’t we?” Follow that comment with a wink and leave them wondering if they have just been insulted or flattered. Sometimes this approach wasn’t enough for me. Whenever our basketball team would lose to another team who weren’t good sports I’d always tell my girls, “Don’t sweat it. At least all the girls on our team can get prom dates.”

]]> By: Kerri http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Kerri Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:05:45 +0000 http://sherralifelesson.com/cross-country-is-a-grueling-high-school-sport/#comment-981 Sherra, Not having kids of my own, I can't answer either of your questions, but I have seen the displays of unsportsmanlike conduct you talk about - at PeeWee Football even. It is a disgrace and those parents should be ashamed of themselves for passing on their bad behavior to their children. Great job to both your girls on the race! It really is a tough sport and making it across the finish line should be cheered no matter what place it is. Sherra,
Not having kids of my own, I can’t answer either of your questions, but I have seen the displays of unsportsmanlike conduct you talk about – at PeeWee Football even. It is a disgrace and those parents should be ashamed of themselves for passing on their bad behavior to their children.

Great job to both your girls on the race! It really is a tough sport and making it across the finish line should be cheered no matter what place it is.

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