I Was Terrible at Sports — Then My Child Changed Everything

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I was always the last one picked for gym class. Yet, my encouraging child helped me transform my perspective on sports.

I watched my son skillfully dribble and sink basket after basket. With no other kids around, I decided to join him for some basketball, despite knowing it’s not my strong suit. After he stole the ball from me about 95 times in a row, I burst into laughter and surrendered. “Don’t ever give up, Mom!” he urged. “Even if it feels like you’ll never win.” He didn’t learn that from me; it was a lesson from playing sports.

To put it bluntly, I was not athletic as a child. Gym class was a struggle, and while I did gymnastics, team sports were never my thing. I vividly remember hitting the baseball for the first time and running to third base in confusion. As an adult, I’ve attended yoga classes but never engaged in organized sports.

In contrast, my son is a natural athlete, excelling at soccer, baseball, basketball, and football. My husband and I are often puzzled about where his talent comes from. I’ve become that mom who attends all my child’s games and shops at sporting goods stores for the right baseball bats.

Then came tennis, which entered both our lives, largely due to the pandemic. The summer after COVID-19, we found a local tennis camp that assured us it was following safety protocols. My son loved it and wanted to practice even when he wasn’t at camp.

I eventually dug out an old tennis racket from our garage and accompanied him to the public tennis courts. Initially, I did it just to keep him busy and away from screens. I thought I’d at least be able to toss a ball to him. But he started coaching me on my form (he really absorbed a lot from tennis camp!), and to my surprise, I began to enjoy playing.

Many of my son’s friends and their parents played tennis too. I found myself intentionally playing more often, sometimes with my son or with a parent while they played with my child. Eventually, my husband and son gifted me a new racket, one that wasn’t older than my son. I enrolled in a series of tennis lessons at our town’s recreation center. The instructor, reminiscent of a gym coach from the ’80s, made me feel at ease. His patience and clear instructions made a significant difference. Tennis was not just exercise; it was also a way to socialize. I even made a friend in class, a woman who had just moved to our town and had a daughter in my son’s class. Without tennis, I might never have met her.

I realized I felt physically better than I had in months, perhaps even years. Who knew exercise and sports could be so beneficial?!

“You’ve actually improved,” a friend remarked during a match. “Maybe you have some athletic potential.” That’s the closest I’ve ever been to being called athletic. I may never be the next Venus or Serena Williams, but I’m excited to have signed up for another round of tennis lessons this spring.

In sports, as in life, it’s essential to keep your focus on the goal, but more importantly, maintain a positive mindset. If you doubt your athletic potential, remember what my son told me: Don’t ever give up, even when it seems like victory is out of reach.

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In summary, my journey from being terrible at sports to enjoying tennis with my son has taught me the importance of perseverance and a positive attitude. I never imagined I could find joy in sports, but here I am, excited for what’s next.

Keyphrase: overcoming sports challenges

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