RachelRiediger LizEnslow
Nov 4 · 1 min read

Today was a hard day as a mom. Lots of emotions. My son had his football championship game- he is 11. We arrived knowing that the team we were playing was difficult and sometimes played in an unsportsmanlike manner. We knew this because we had seen them play other teams and we have played them before. Even though we all knew this, our boys were coached to be positive, work hard, fight for the ball and protect each other.

Long story short, our kids didn’t win the game, but they did learn a lot. They learned that their coaches were there for them and fought for them and their safety. They learned that their parents were going to cheer for them no matter what and that we were proud of how hard they played. They learned that sometimes there are bad calls and you still must be respectful. They learned that if another team plays dirty, we will never sink to that level- we play this game of football with class.

I’m beyond proud of our kids, coaches and fans. The coaches taught the boys how to be a good sportsman, and that they are champions in our eyes. This is more than just football.

I know this isn’t a story about a classroom teacher, but the boys had many lessons out on that field, and all the coaches were teachers today. Remember that as the adults in the lives of our children or students, we play a huge role in shaping how they react to adversity, and what type of person they will become.

RachelRiediger LizEnslow

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We are sisters, teachers at heart, and mentors and coaches to others. Our passion is to help others love the teaching profession.