I have a had long weekend…the last time I left you I was off to be a hockey mom. I grumble and moan about going to the rink and sitting in the cold but I do enjoy watching my boys play. I sit in the stands and like every parent out there I cheer the team on. I never thought much about the comments like “hit him” or “use your body” very much. Or how about, “get his number!” Hockey is a contact sport and who doesn’t sit a little closer to the edge of their seat when a hockey fight breaks out.
This is not a post for me to rant and rave against the violence in sports. It is however a post for me to ask you to be mindful of what we teach. The second period was almost over, as I sat watching the game and talking to the mom sitting next to me when Raceboy83 got hit from behind and drove headfirst into the boards. As he laid on the ice I was calm. It was when he didn’t get up when his dad got there that I began to worry. He never did get up, he was put on a backboard and we went for a ride in the ambulance. He was as calm as could be and reassured me with comments like ” Mom this is not our first ambulance ride. Don’t worry” or “hey mom remember when I knocked myself out cold at Red Deer? Haha that was funny!” ( it wasn’t…he over shot a jump at an arena cross race and knocked himself silly into the next week!) I think he was trying to make himself feel better, I could see the fear in his eyes. He is a tough kid and I knew he would be okay. He remained on the backboard for close to 2 hours before they unstrapped him and let him get up. He has missed school today and is sleeping in mom’s bed. He has a headache and his neck still really hurts. I am so thankful that he is not on his way to being in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I am not thankful however for what I heard after the game.
When raceboy83′s dad was walking past the other team on his way to raceboy83 he got to watch them all high fiving and laughing and joking. Are you kidding me?!?! Where are the responsible adult coaches saying “hey guys have some respect” or how about ” A 12 year old just went off the ice on a backboard with neck injuries…that is not funny or something to be proud of”. I know that the little boy that hit him probably didn’t mean to hurt him and I am glad he didn’t. I just want all of us adults to remember that every situation is a teachable moment. I hope we all use them to our biggest advantage. So as you take your kids to the rink this week I ask that you use the ride there as one of those moments and have a talk about this situation. And please remind you kids the number on the back of a jersey is as good as a stop sign. I hope none of you ever take that ride.
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