Don't forget the "thank you"

I was at the East hockey game on Thursday- enjoying not only the hockey, but the chance to spend a few hours with my daughter. Although I am not sure if she actually watched any of the game, she did tell me on the way home- "thank you dad, I had fun at the game." Warms my heart. I was sitting next to a parent of one of our players and she made the comment to me that I was really lucky to have a wife that let me do this (coach lacrosse). It was a pretty good observation- I am really lucky (for a lot of reasons) to have Kate in my life. One reason is that she does know how much I get out this experience every spring- and she makes sacrifices in her life to support me. Being a stay at home mom can be a long day until 6pm, but every spring that turns into an 80 hour a week deal- From March to June her "shift" expands to past 8pm and most of the day on Saturday. I am only pointing this out because I get it: Kate makes this possible for me. If she didn't support me, none of this would be possible. I wonder if I thank her enough.

As lacrosse players, I wonder if our guys realize the sacrifices that their parents make to make this possible for them. I have a hard time remembering my perspective when I was 17 years old, but somehow I suspect I was not thinking in terms of what my parents were sacrificing for me to do the things I wanted to do. I am sure I didn't thank them enough. That's pretty hard to "get" for many adults I know, much less a teenager.

I really hit me this week after the sign up meeting- how much of a sacrifice parents are making for our guys to come together. And those sacrifices come in many forms- the one that hit us between the eyes this Sunday was the financial sacrifice. Every year the cost to participate in athletics is high- even if the sport is "funded", it still turns into a big time investment. I doubt many players get how painful it can be for many. This year with so much uncertainty, fear, and anxiety about our economy, to write that check can be excruciating.

For those players that read this, I would like you to really take a few minutes today and reflect on the sacrifices your parents have made for you. This year more than ever I want you to be aware that all of the things you are enjoying about this spring is coming at a cost. It would take absolutely zero effort on your part to walk up to your mom and dad today and just tell them- "Hey mom, I really appreciate the things are doing for me. Thank you". Go ahead. Get up from your computer right now, or pick up your cell phone, hit that speed dial you normally reserve for asking for money for the weekend and this time tell them thank you.

You want to really honor what they do for you? This week at practice you will be given a chance to sell t-shirts. The money you raise from selling a t-shirt doesn't go to the lacrosse program- each one is worth $10 back to your parents against the money they paid so you could be on the field with us. Go sell 37 of them and give your mom a heck of a mother's day gift- playing lax for free, mom. (how do you sell that many? there are over 200 EGR lacrosse players in the middle school and grade school- I will bet you could get 30 sales in an hour. Oh I dont understand why players never ask me to buy a shirt!)

I guess what I am saying is that the first step is understanding/recognizing what people are giving, investing, doing for you. That's a big step for anyone, but especially for someone young who may not yet have really had to sacrifice for someone else. Once you take some time to reflect on that, making sure that they know you appreciate it is step 2. The ultimate is when you start participating- giving back to those who has given to you. It takes a lot of maturity and no small amount of effort, but it starts with taking a few minutes to reflect on it, and not forgetting the thank you.

Get on the wall.
Coach V