So many parents ask me what the secret is to raising a sports champion. It’s not much of a secret. The key to raising a champion is to provide them with the basic necessities: Food and water, a good bed to rest, a roof over their head, and a good dose of love. Teach them to be respectful. Show your children love, care, compassion, and understanding. Support your children with everything you have, especially by attending their sporting events!
There’s a balance that goes with raising a champion, so when needed, be firm and utilize consistent discipline. Kids aren’t perfect and good kids make mistakes too. It’s the message that you give them when they make mistakes that will help them in the future.
When my parents raised me, they didn’t pressure me, or make me do anything I didn’t want to do. They supported me through everything. We weren’t rich by any means. With 6 kids in the house, there were times we struggled a bit, but my parents gave me a good home to live in. They loved me, and they discipline me when needed. They made sure I ate, slept, was clothed, studied, and worked out. They gave me the roots I needed to become a champion and I did the rest. I wanted to make them proud because of how they sacrificed for me.
To sum it up: Give your children a strong foundation and your support…their passion will take care of the rest. In the end, if your children don’t become champions, it doesn’t matter, because you prepared them for life and showed them how to be a good parent. If they are half the parent you were, they will be a champion in life, which is even better.
