Sports Mom Life is No Joke.
I never envisioned my kids getting involved in serious sports until at least middle school, but apparently, that’s not how things work anymore. We are now knee-deep in Cross-Country, Track, Swimming, Flag Football, and Baseball. As much as I’d love to have at least four kids, I simply can’t manage the schedule! So, I’ll have to make do with just the two… One for each parent.

We started Cross-Country with Lightning Running Club in the fall of 2022. We had just moved to Mount Airy, Maryland, and I desperately wanted Charles to give running a shot, he’s made for it. To my surprise, running is a pretty big deal here. The clubs compete at a much higher level than I ever anticipated, and I was blown away the first time I watched their practice. My running heart was full. Charles was 7 and coming off of playing in typical youth soccer programs. He’s a fantastic soccer player, but nerves sometimes got the best of him. We’ve been with Lightning for three years now and could not recommend them enough. Charles even gets to add “National Champions” to his youth running resume. He competed with Maryland Blaze at Nationals, where they went on to win the 9/10 division. As awesome as that sounds, it really took a toll on him.

Because he chose to continue and give Nationals a shot, his season didn’t end until the middle of December. It was dark and freezing outside for most of the practices, running through neighborhoods all lit up to avoid getting hit by traffic. It sounds kind of miserable for a 9 year old who was already so exhausted from a full season of racing. Things like this just didn’t cross my mind. I’m an adult, and I’ve been through challenges like this, but not at 9 years old. The poor kid was beat… he wanted to rest so badly, I could tell. But he powered through, along with Adrien. I have to give him his props too. Adrien was able to do this with little pressure since he’s the only 6 year old on the team. For him, it was just a personal goal, while Charles had a whole team to support. But they did it, and it was a really neat experience.

After losing a best friend and a teammate to a big move to Ohio, Charles decided to take on Flag Football as well as track. We were 100% on board with his decision. He’s so happy out on the field, learning a new sport, and being silly with his friends. Track and swimming are always a bit more serious and competitive, so this is the perfect balance for him, especially after a long XC season. Adrien is simply gliding along as usual and has always played spring ball. Baseball is my absolute favorite sport, so I’m thrilled to have at least one child who enjoys it. We’ll see how long it lasts though…when you’re small, it can feel pretty boring. He’s also doing track when time allows.

Last season, Adrien was in Kindergarten and played on a stacked baseball team of 1st graders. Yes, you read that right—stacked at first grade! He enjoyed his team winning but he knew far less than everyone else and was clearly uncomfortable. Lucky for Adrien, he’s a great hitter, or that season could’ve completely crushed his interest in the sport. This year we switched to a different league where he still has a couple friends and he’s so much happier. He’s enjoying himself on the field and engaging with his teammates, something he didn’t do last season.

The reality is that youth sports should be about fun, growth, and learning, not pressure. Kids need the space to explore different activities without worrying about perfection or competition. This is something that’s really hard for us as parents to remember. I see my kids excelling at something and I get so excited and just keep giving that push to get better and better. That’s not always the best approach. Some kids can absolutely handle pressure like that, but someone like Adrien isn’t ready for that type of pressure. He only just turned 7. Too often, we see kids pushed into intense training or games with stakes far too high for their age. That’s not what it’s about. The foundation of sports is play, learning teamwork, building confidence, and simply enjoying movement. It’s a shame when that pure joy gets lost in the race for rankings, and wins in the local sports program. Instead of getting the win, I’d rather the attention be focused on teaching my child the skills needed to succeed in the game. We need to remember that sports are meant to be a fun outlet, with expectations that you pay attention and learn. They shouldn’t be forced to become competitive professionals at 7 years old. When kids play sports, they’re not just learning athletic skills. They’re also learning resilience, discipline, and how to be a part of a team. These are lessons that stick, but only if they’re given the freedom to grow at their own pace. So, let’s step back and let our kids enjoy the ride, without the weight of unrealistic expectations.

The pressures and frustrations parents place on their children at such a young age can create a toxic environment where kids are more focused on pleasing their parents than enjoying the game or learning life skills. The bottom line, people: Not every kid is going to be the next professional athlete. Kids NEED sports for socialization, exercise, and learning how to work as a team, not just as an outlet for their parents’ unmet dreams. If we keep pushing them to the point of burnout before they even get to middle school, what are we really teaching them? Stop ruining it. Let kids be kids

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