Yea. I definitely love watching my boys kick ass out there. I even play the theme from Highlander (Princes of the Universe) for em as I get them ready to go - helping with pads, belts, making sure the cleats are tied just right and all - ya know, Dad stuff with a "psych em up BIG time" twist to it.
I've been blessed with 2 VERY hard-assed sons. Even though it's their first year, they are both on 1st string offense AND defense and playing against kids with anywhere from 2 to 5 years of experience on them. My 10yo's league tops at 11 years old but most of them have been playing since they were 6 and my 7 year old's league tops at 9 years old and most of those kids have been playing since they were 6 as well so making 1st string on EITHER offense or defense would have been amazing but making both, well - that's all on just sheer toughness.
One thing I've noticed that bugs me though is how parents will be MAD at their kids if they don't do something right. That bothers me. No one will EVER hear me shouting angrily at my boys about their performances in public OR at home and it just makes me think of how parents get all confused over raising kids.
Threatening your son because they didn't catch a pass is CRAZY and I've heard fathers SCREAMING at their kids out on the field because of stuff like that.
They make a bad play or mess up a little, as far as I'm concerned, you just encourage them to make up for it next time. I also don't tell them to make ME proud when they get on the field. We kneel down, say a prayer of thanks, for strength, no injuries and that they will make THEMSELVES proud as they fight. Then we all say Amen together and in one of them will go for their game or both into their practice.
I'm so blessed with such a wife and sons.
Well guys, thanks for the kind words and I'm getting things together for some fun with the M4 today.
Gonna be leaving the 10er put away for now - trying to conserve some ammo for a while and it's dialed right in nice right now so it can get a little rest this trip. Got some other toys goin too but ya know, can't go posting EVERYTHING I have on the internet...
Sharkey