In This Family We Support Each Other

As published in the LaPorte County Herald-Argus, 5/22/2010:

In This Family We Support Each Other
By, Michelle Harmon

A typical weeknight or Saturday night in my house during this time of year consists of traveling from one softball game to the next, with all four kids in tow. Yes, it's a busy life, but it can be a very rewarding one. Especially, if the kids are cheering each other on and not just worrying about themselves. Supporting one another and thinking more about family and less about self is the lesson I am trying to teach my kids through sports.
My mantra is: “In this family we support each other.” I say it often. In fact, my oldest jokes about it, “Mom, you say that about five times a day!” I answer, “Maybe so. That's because I want you to remember it.” It all started during one of my middle daughter's games. My oldest did not feel like sitting and watching her sister play. She would rather hang out with friends that were also in attendance (with little sisters playing in the game). My youngest thought it would be much more fun to play on the playground than sit and watch her big sister play. I turned to the two of them and asked them, “Why are we here?” They, of course, answered, “for Isabelle's game.” “That's right,” I said. “And, in this family we support each other, so you are going to sit here and support your sister. And, when, you have a game, Isabelle will do the same for you.” They looked at me dumbfounded for a minute and even pouted a little. But, after awhile, they put their energies into cheering their sister on. And, it was a proud moment for Mom. Now, whenever we go to games, no one asks to go play. We all support each other.
The point that I'm driving at with my kids is that by supporting each other at softball games, they will begin to notice how good it feels to support someone else and how good it feels to have your siblings supporting you. I hope this is something that they will carry on throughout life, not just within our family, but at school and, eventually, at work and in their own families. Every parent wants her child to grow up to be a thoughtful and caring adult. Something as simple as learning to cheer on your sister at a softball game can help foster a desire to be kind and supportive of others and not thinking just of oneself.