Hockey is Whine-ding Down

by guest blogger Caroline Stanistreet

I think that everyone I’ve talked to in the past few weeks is complaining, whining and whimpering about the severe weather we’ve experienced this season. 

All of you hockey moms (and dads, of course) have had the joy this year to drive your kids to the rinks in the worst conditions possible, and have had to shiver in some bitter cold rinks to support your player during games.  My guess is that many of those rinks have broken heaters or perhaps a small warming area or lobbies that don't feel quite warm enough! Meanwhile, your child probably spent some time changing into his equipment in a locker room with no heat, and then playing, and then literally thawing out after the game with some hot chocolate or soup. 

A fun experience?

No way.

Well, I let my dogs out last night and while they did what they needed to do, I looked up at the clear sky, the thousands of brilliant stars, the serenity of it all, then said to myself, hey, things aren’t so bad in life!

Yes, it’s cold, and snowy, and cold again, but I’ve decided that with spring approaching (sometime, somehow!), we should make this month of March…wait for it…

                             Hockey Mom (and Dad) Appreciation Month!  Yippee!

                           

              

Consider these points, then see if you can release some – or all – of the whining from your system:

·        Your child stayed healthy enough this year to play hockey and to finish out the season…and I mean NO flu, NO broken bones and especially –

                                                           NO concussions

·        Your player likely skated 3, 4, 5 or 6 times per week and was still able to finish his homework and maintain a decent scholastic average

·        Your family was able to afford the following:      

            -- Equipment…how about that larger pair of skates or a replacement stick    mid-year?

            -- Gas…especially if you’ve read my previous blogs, I’ll say no more about     that, except Cha-Ching!

            --Trips to tournaments, including hotel rooms, meals and “incidentals” --  like that cocktail or three you really needed after that overtime championship game?

·        During those trips, you may have had the opportunity to see family or friends you wouldn’t normally see.

·        He or she had something to do almost every weekend, and not sit around and complain that there was nothing to do during the winter doldrums

·        Your child secured new friends and maintained the old ones, and maybe as a parent, you made some new friends too

·        Your kid might have had a tremendous improvement in his game, be it defensively, scoring goals and assists, getting his or her first shutout,  hat trick or MVP award.

·        Your kid stayed in reasonable shape for the next sport he or she may play in the spring, be it lacrosse, golf, baseball, or track 

·        If  you’re a younger parent, you get to enjoy this all over again next year, where many of us “old” parents might have had our final year of youth hockey.

                                 

So, moms, dads, kids, let’s appreciate this hockey season for the memories it brought. And as for our winter, it is what it is in our part of the world.  Things could be a lot worse, although I will admit it couldn’t have been much colder this year!! And look forward to spring – it IS coming, from what I hear…

     

                                                 followed by summaahhhh!