Monday 4 June 2012

….An Emotional Sports Parent


Yesterday, my girls raced in the ACT schools cross country championships. In my last post I wrote about how we were all  feeling excited and anxious about the day…..but I could never have predicted what was going to happen…..

On that post, a lovely Mom from Fly Like A Girl, who I have connected with through blogging, left a thoughtful comment. She said that there was a difference between a crazy sports parent and an emotional one. Well, today, I’m an emotional one….

The girls, excited before the races


The day started with nervous anticipation. My 7 year old daughter, Muscles, took to the starting line of her race. The course was blanketed in a think layer of fog, which gave an eerie atmosphere to the race. I stood at the apex of the first corner to watch the girls disappear into the fog…with my little girl firmly in the lead as they ran out of site.

Muscles in the lead........


I rushed down to the finishing straight full of excitement to watch the final part of the race. As I stood with my family, we strained our necks to get a glimpse of the girls and we couldn’t see Muscles. . As the girls turned into the finishing straight there was still no sign of my little girl.

My heart sank because for weeks, I had been reassuring her about the race and telling her that she would be fine….I knew how much this race meant to her. I thought that she must have run too hard at the start and was too exhausted to maintain the pace. I new that she would be upset.

We waited at the line, still searching for a glimpse of my girl…the last stragglers finished and still there was no sign of her.

Now my heart was pounding! What had happened???

I went straight to the marshalling tent to find one of our lovely teachers was already making enquiries. Finally (at least it felt like forever, but was probably just a minute), a call came in from one of the course marshals requesting first aid for a injured girl.

So, off I went…running that cross country course myself to find my daughter.

It turned out that she had fallen and badly injured her ankle. I carried her back…while she cried and shook from the pain and the disappointment, and the relief from seeing me.  It also turned out that there was no first aid at the course….Luckily, our school had brought a first aid kit so at least we had some ice and bandages to help ease the swelling.

Little Buster was very concerned for his big sister...


Today we are off to see the sports doctors to see what the damage is. Her ankle is very swollen and bruised! She is devastated that she can’t do her gymnastics training with her major competitions coming up. Last night the poor little thing cried herself to sleep…

….Back at the cross country carnival my oldest daughter, Flash (9) ran 4th in her race….to be completely honest, I don't think her heart was really in it.



So today I am an emotional sports parent. I haven’t quite got my thoughts straight yet. I know that injuries are a part of sport…I know that she'll probably be fine in a few weeks.....but it is so hard to see my child go though that...It was a tough day at the office for this mum.

linking up with Diary of a SAHM for #IBOT (I blog on Tuesdays)


24 comments:

  1. Oh no! How scary...for both of you. If you weren't emotional about that it would mean you didn't care. Hoping for a quick recovery for your sweet little girl.

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  2. Oh dear oh dear, hope Muscles recovers soon. Big hugs to her and you!

    Ai @ Sakura Haruka

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    1. Thanks Ai....I think we should stick to swimming!!

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    2. Oh no, not swimming, all the sporting related injuries I have had (countless shoulder dislocations, broken wrist from banging my hand into the wall whilst doing a tumble turn) all happened in the pool. And don't get me started on the injuries that can happen in ocean swimming :-) ha ha. Hope she recovers quickly

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    3. Oh no...I was counting on swimming being safe! Is there a sport that involves wrapping up the children in cotton wool??? After today I'm even thinking chess might be a good idea!

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  3. Very tough, indeed. I hope she gets better soon :)

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  4. Oh I hope she's going to be ok! Let us know the results of the doctor!

    If Flash wasn't running with her heart in it, it would be amazing to see her running with her heart in it! if that makes sense..

    xx You can be emotional we totally understand!

    #teamIBOT was here to say hello!

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  5. oh that pic of little buster with muscles is just beautiful! just beautiful... love it.

    I hope you are all doing okay and feeling better x

    #teamIBOT

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    1. Thanks Lyndaal. He was so concerned about her, it was so touching. He kept trying to repeat "you be k" which means "you'll be OK"...

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  6. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. Injuries are devastating for kids. And I totally get the emotional parent thing!! Hoping for a quick recovery for your daughter.

    (I am so surprised that there was no first aid at the course too!)

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    1. Thanks Debbie!I think there must have been some sort of mix-up with the first aid. Everyone kept telling us to go to first aid....but there wasn't a first aid! I'm just glad I was able to be there (who knows how long she would have had to wait out on the course for the non-existent first aid) and we had some first aid supplies bought by our school.

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  7. Oh no.
    I'm so sorry to hear this - for all of you.
    You poor little Muscles.
    (But how very sweet is her gorgeous brother?)

    I hope you get the best possible prognosis.
    :-) xxx

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    1. Thanks Shar! We spent the afternoon at physiotherapy...looks like there are no fractures!

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  8. Oh you poor things. I have a feeling though that this is one of those things that will only make you stronger in the end. Fairy wishes and and butterfly kisses to you and Muscles

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    1. Thanks Rhi, I hope you are right :) I've tried to find a positive spin for my blog post...but I haven't come up with any yet....

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  9. Oh that is hard.
    When I broke my toe a few weeks ago, I was disappointed I couldn't excercise for a few weeks, and that's without anything major to look forward to! Must be hard for Muscles to have to miss out :(

    Couldn't help but notice how rugged up everyone was and then theree she was in her shorts. Such a thought little girl she must be!

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    1. Thanks Jess....It's going to be hard for her having to miss out!

      You're right about the shorts....maybe I need to find a nice sponsor to provide the girls with some warm compression garments...... *hint!*

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  10. Oh my goodness, that is so horrible. I am so sorry for your little Muscles, poor darling. You must have been beside yourself with worry when she didn't show up at the finish line. I hope she can make a speedy recovery. Sprained ankles are just awful, I've had it happen a couple of times and it DOES make you cry... the pain AND the feeling that you can't do the things you want to do.
    Oh what an emotional week for you all.
    I have to say I love that pic of your boy looking after his sister, heart warming xo

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    1. Thanks :) It was horrible not knowing what happened to her.

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  11. Oh no, hope she feels better soon! Anyone would have been emotional in that situation! Love the photo of your little man with his hand tenderly on his big sister - so beautiful!

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    1. Thanks Cathy. His concern for his sister touched everyone who was watching as well...

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