The best lesson

local sports talk radio got a little deeper than the regular fare of cowboy bashing and adolescent bathroom humor the other day.   the dudes were talking about how differently a couple of pro quarterbacks have handled the adversity in their lives and professional careers.

one of them has handled it with grace and maturity.   in the face of some pretty shady injustice,  he has stood tall…taken the high road with his adversaries…and continues to earn the respect of coaches,  the media and players.

the other guy made mistake after mistake with his notoriety,  fame and wealth.   poor judgment and questionable decisions have plagued him from his youth.   his reputation is soiled.   his future is uncertain.   his marketability is in question.   his career hangs in the balance.

the sports talk guy  (who apparently has some personal connection and insight into the upbringing and family lives of both players),  made an observation that has really stuck with me.    he was contrasting the way each of these guys was raised,  and he said this:

“it is the parent’s job to raise kids who are emotionally equipped to handle the crises of life.”

not only do i totally agree with the statement…but teaching the values and life skills necessary to handle crisis may be the single most important job a parent will ever have.

the reality?   you’ll do far less teaching with your words  than you will with your own example in the face of crisis.

parents…look in the mirror.

#crisis #parenting