The best version of you

Sporty parents like competition because it provides rules. Parents instinctively know that kids respond well to boundaries. The rules we use today are the same ones we will use tomorrow. It helps to be predictable.

What derails the predictability of parents is emotional control. Mind blown. Routines, consistency, and fairness go out the window. 

Despite protests “That it’s not fair!” We treat our children not based on equality but based on the mood we are in. Authority might not have been lost but it has certainly been challenged.

And what better way to lose your mind than on the sidelines of a sports pitch?

When you are at the mercy of the result of a game, consistency is an issue. If you want to be predictable, fair, and receptive to what your children are telling you. Then, it might be time to reconsider. 

Competition provides rules and structure but unless we are consistent it also undermines authority. It might make more sense to design your own rules and structures. Until such time that you and the kids are ready to consistently handle the competition.