What’s it like to be the mother of an Olympic athlete?
I get teary eyed at school events and banjo recitals. I can’t even imagine what it would feel like, to be there in the crowd at the Olympics watching my child perform. Then add in the fact that cameras might be watching you, to see what your reaction is as your child is performing. Ack. Pressure. I don’t think I could handle it. I would probably be a nervous wreck. But I’m sure I would also be glowing with pride, feeling joyful and amazed, anxious, and yes, teary eyed.
What’s it like to be the mother of an Olympic athlete?
As much as these athletes have put themselves out there, persevered, worked hard, trained, and already put on one heck of performance just to get to where they are today, their mothers have also travelled alongside them, both figuratively and literally. I mean, you don’t just wake up one day and find yourself at the Olympics. All those hours spent driving your kids too and from soccer practice, or swim meets, or the ice rink, or whatever. All that time spent watching them play, or practice or perform. Not every parent is willing to do that. I’m going to be brutally honest and say, it exhausts me just thinking about it. I get worked up just getting my kids to their Scouts meetings on time each week.
What’s it like to be the mother of an Olympic athlete?
Beverly Labbé is the mother of goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé , who is competing this year in Rio as part of the Canadian Women’s Olympic soccer team. This is Stephanie’s first Olympics. She already has one Pan AM Games medal, having won silver at Santa Domingo in 2003. She also won gold and silver medals with the under-20 team at the 2004 and 2006 CONCACAF Championships. As part of the senior team Labbé has taken part in three Cyprus Cup Championships, earned a CONCACAF gold medal in 2010, and played in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Beverly talks about the three guiding principles that she feels have helped guide her daughter to reaching the Olympics; support, communication and positivity.
She also said that the one piece of advice she would offer to parents with kids in competitive sports is to focus on the positive. Always offer your children positive feedback, recognize when they are down and keep bringing up the positive.
What’s it like to be the mother of an Olympic athlete?
My daughter, Stephanie Labbé, started playing soccer when she was 12 and from that point on, a large part of the whole family’s life was spent on sport fields and arenas.
A trait I admire most of Stephanie is her positivity. She always sees the good in people. If I could give one piece of advice to parents who are starting this journey with their kid it would be to stay focused on the good. Recognize when your son or daughter is down and keep lifting them up.
Every time I see that Thank You Mom video, it reminds me how important my strength and support of her is.
None of us set out to raise an Olympian but with support, communication and positivity we can all raise pretty great kids!
What’s it like to be the mother of an Olympic athlete?
Beverly mentioned that the hardest part of being the mother of an Olympic athlete was that you don’t get to be at her games physically a lot. She talked about scheduling family holidays around Stephanie’s games, and travelling to Sweden to visit with her daughter while she was living there. She said it’s hard not being there in person — not there to support her daughter and cheer her on, not there to give her a hug.
I love knowing that thanks to the P&G’s Thank You Mom program Beverly is there in the stands watching her daughter, giving her a giant hug after the game, and cheering her on as the Canadian Women’s Soccer team moves into the finals.
What about you folks? Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be the mother of an Olympian? Do any of you have kids that play in competitive sports? What advice would YOU offer to parents who are supporting their children as they play competitively?
Disclosure: I am an Always Brand Ambassador, and as such will be providing coverage of Always’ sponsored Olympic athlete, Stephanie Labbé. This post was sponsored by P&G. As always, my words and opinions are my own.
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