I'm a Fanatic

I'm a fanatic just like many Americans.  Every Saturday or Sunday during football season,  I am sitting on my couch or in a stadium seat watching my beloved teams battled.  During baseball season I watch as many games as I can.  Friday nights I find a High School stadium and root for the home team.  I cried when the Mavericks won their first NBA championship.  I am a fanatic.....

But many people take the term fanatic to an extreme.  Our priorities in America are out of whack.  We are fanatical when our teams win or lose.  We scream at the t.v. when our teams do well, and cuss at the t.v. when they do bad.  We blame the losses on the refs, the coach,  or the other team cheating. We write nasty notes on opposing players twitter pages when they hurt someone on our team. We create violence when our teams lose, we make babies when our teams win.....

Today I read a post on Twitter that got me thinking of this.  A local sports reporter named Ryan Hyatt said it well..... "You" didn't lose to #TAMU tonight. The team you root for did, the school you went to did, but you didn't. Only the players an coaches and a few folks that'll lose their jobs if Tech loses more did. It's ok to get passionate, but keep some perspective. Take all your energy about today and make sure it equals what you put into your kid's education"

I think Mr Hyatt hit the nail on the head. My loss is when my 8 year old brings home a 60 on her spelling test because I failed to review her words with her the week before.  How many times have you shown the same passion when your kid brings home a great grade?  How many times have you show that same enthusiasm when your kid learns a new life lesson?  America is out of focus.  We are so concerned about what the latest celebrity is doing that we fail to pay attention to what our kids are doing.  We are so caught up in making sure our sons are the next Montana that we forget that we can raise them to be the next Lincoln or Steve Jobs. 

How do I know that we are out of whack?  On my days off I work at a high school...Every day I ask the kids what they want to be when they get older.  Many of them say a professional (pick a sport).  My favorite is the 5'3 110lb senior white kid who doesn't play HS basketball that wants to play in the NBA...I just giggle inside.  I was one of them at one time and I am not saying it cannot happen.  I'm just curious as to what is being taught at home?  I love when the response is "I want to be a Dr. or a Teacher or join the military".  It makes me feel as if there is still hope. 

It's ok to be a fanatic...I think it is healthy to show kids your passions...We need teach them to be just as passionate about making good grades....We just have to do a better job at showing them that life is not all about touchdowns and RBI's...That the real world is tough and an education can carry you a long way....

If I've learned anything by fostering these two boys is this....I dont want them to be famous NFL players....If they grow into that it would be awesome....I want them to want to learn...to get an education....to realize that life is more than yelling at a t.v. screen....