The worst part of the soccer season is here. Trophies! Obviously I'm not a fan. Unless my kids are part of a winning team, I don't see the point. There was a choice on Rio's team...t-shirts or trophies. Our choice lost, by a lot. I don't know why it surprises me, I predicted this from the day we signed up for soccer. The story is pretty much the same but in different variation.
"My son is expecting one."
"My son doesn't have a trophy yet and he wants one."
"It just makes me feel good when I see him get a trophy."
"They're young, what does it really matter?"
"It makes the kids happy."
"The boys worked so hard, they deserve them."
Traditionally trophies are a symbol of winning. So this is what I'm hearing; expecting, wanting, deserving and having are winning attitudes. What are we rewarding? I don't think parents are doing their children any favors.
Rio's coach called to ask if they should order Rio a trophy. Now I'm in a terrible position. I would love to tell him NO. Rio doesn't even want one, he wants a t-shirt. However if I did that, then it's separating Rio from the team, and after all isn't that the point of team sports? To be a team, not an individual.
If I say, "Ya, go ahead he can have a trophy."
Does that make me a hypocrite? I should practice what I preach.
Rio says, "I'm just gonna throw it away."
What a waste of money. And worst of all, I feel like it's taking away from him winning his first trophy. If he's handed trophies year after year for participation it will be no big deal. How sad.
On a lighter note; Amaya is on a winning team and we're doing medals. Rio is excited for his sister.
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