Words are Important

Last weekend the coaching staff of Rosebro #2's feeder high school hosted a Football Breakfast with Moms.  This was for all Moms who have sons (and I suppose daughters) who play football in the high school's football program.  Because of my husband and the fact that my boys have been around football since birth, I really didn’t think I was going to attend-I actually needed to spend the Saturday before students arrived at school getting ready.  However, on Friday night, guilt set in and I made the decision to go to the event with Rosebro#2.  We started with learning about the real brutality of football and then the steps the staff uses to ensure the safety of our football players.  Remind yourself that I live with the trainer, Rose bro #2 has been playing football since he was in 1^st grade, and my Dad coached football. I truly was about to crawl out of skin when the real fun began. The Moms were then taken through football drills. They began simple enough with stretching exercises and agility practice.  Then we were asked to do tackling drills, dummy jumps, running hills, and even more fun.  I immediately went into internal panic mode.  My next thought was to my 6 year old self. When I was six years old, I loved taking dance lessons.  I practice, I twirled, I danced non-stop. My mom worked extra to pay for dance lessons. I’ll never forget inviting my 1^st grade teacher to my dance recital.  I’m sure she said something about coming (many of us do this) and quickly got back on task, but I’ll never forget at recess that day, I was playing tag with the boys and hiding on a side of the building when I heard Mrs. Sprott telling the other teacher, “I was invited to by Meredith,  like she’s ever going to be a ballerina, not with her size.” To this day, I can still feel the air leaving my body and my eyes filling up with tears. Now some 38 years later, I am still nervous in athletic situations because of Mrs. Sprott.  I don’t tell you all of this to make you sad for my chubby 6-year-old self.  In fact, as much as I loved dance, I loved football more. I did eventually become a cheerleader for a number of years and still dance given the opportunity. I tell you this to remind you of the power of your words.  You see, I believed Mrs. Sprout. I believed her because she was my teacher. Her words held power. So much so, her words became my inner voice for many years. And if I am honest, still today as I get sweaty palmed when asked to do anything physical in front of others. Instead of lifting me up, she made me doubt myself. She made me realize that I was not good enough. She made me feel like a failure.  Now, was I made to be a dancer. Not no, but heck no. I would have realized that out naturally through time, but I was developing confidence, teamwork, and was getting a lot of physical activity (much needed by my 6 year old chubby self –not to mention my 44 year old self) . But with her words, she took that away from not only that 6 year old, but from me for many years. As our students enter the building today, for the 2016-2017 school year, I beg of you to remember the power of your words….the power to build, the power to equip, the power to inspire our students. It matters not just for today, but for every day afterwards. Had it not been for Mrs. Sprout, I can only imagine it would have been me instead of Courtney Cox in that Bruce Springsteen video (I bet you’ll be signing Dancing in the Dark the rest of the day).