Teaming up with your teenager playing junior high football can be challenging

CONROE, TX -- Being the parent of a kid going through a vital, but trying time in his life, I have to learn more about how not to be than how to be. If that statement sounds confusing, you've never had a teenager.

My lessons on how to be a halfway decent father have come through experience and osmosis. Experience is gained by watching others parent and trying to go with what works best (nothing). Some things work, others don't. Half the time I'm not sure if I'm fooling him, or myself.

What I think is unavoidable is the fact that much of our parenting is hereditary. This is inside us and is the osmosis part I was talking about. Sometimes, I'll knee-jerk something and fly off the handle like my father used to. Then I'll think about the situation and hope I don't totally spaz out like that again. Sometimes I'd actually managed this.

I'll go with the church and hold discussion to the National Religion of Texas - FOOTBALL.

In regard to eighth-grade football, as I look back at the seventh grade experiences learned, I see many scenarios for the season. All were good so I'm ready for everything.

You're probably asking why I'm thinking so much about myself and not my kid. What you don't understand is a lot of people are extensions of their kids and they live and die with their happiness and well being.

I'm not one of those over the top freaks who is trying to relive my athletic career through my son. Nothing could be further from the truth. Parents, good ones anyway, are a team with their kid(s).
Not many 13-year-olds will admit to the team thing right now. But, it will mean a lot to them later on that they had their parents' support in a huge way. It doesn't matter that I sometimes feel like the farmer talking to his mule and I'm trying to remember where I put my two-by-four. Oops!! Evil thoughts have no place in this column.

Lessons learned last year start with which team he made, A, B or C. It was a big deal last year and it will be a big deal again this year. But, I'm ready and I will be positive.

A week or so after football starts, the kids are sorted out and separated into teams. It could be by talent level, size (football coaches are fixated on size) or whatever.

The coaches have my sympathy. Having to sort out hundreds of kids and put them on what they hope will be the right team has to be a major pain. They probably dream of making 200+ sets of parents happy. Wake up coach, that's not Taylor Swift snuggling up next to you.

A good percentage of the calls will be from unhappy parents, no matter what. Phone calls and e-mails will question the criteria for making certain teams. The coaches have to answer those as best they can, try to coach and not forget they also have to teach classes.

The big question from parent to parent is, "What team did Johnny get on?" If you think about it, that's kind of like asking how much money you make, or asking your son's friend how much money his dad paid for that Nintendo Switch 2 gaming system in their house.

Anyway, my son made the C team in seventh grade and took it well despite all the talking that goes on between kids. His taking it well made me take it well. I don't think the future really depends on which team your son made in seventh-grade football. There were some kids who made the A team and played sparingly. That will make you forget the glory of making the A team in a hurry.

So, my son made the C team and played a lot and excelled on that team. A friend of his was the quarterback and you can imagine how much that did for his friend's self esteem and growth as a person. I saw the coaches doing their best trying to keep everyone involved and get everyone into the games. I remember they played one of the larger schools and late in the fourth quarter, I heard one of their coaches asking who hadn't played yet.

For those parents debating whether or not to let your kid play football, chill out. Your better judgment is wrong. More kids get hurt playing baseball and volleyball. If your kid wants to play football, let him. I guarantee the complaints about nicks and cuts around the house will cease. Osmosis will make your kid tougher.

Stay in touch over the football season whether your kids are playing football or not. I hope they enjoy school and grow with you as a team. I'll be right there with you, so stop by and say hello.

See you in the bleachers!

If you'd like to reach out, my email address is dsarant50@gmail.com