Janis B. Meredith's Blog: JBM Thinks Sportsparenting, page 73

Does Your Child Feel Like Giving Up? This Story is Bound to Inspire!

Perhaps your child feels like giving up. He is discouraged, thinks he can’t meet his goals, thinks he isn’t good enough, thinks he just doesn’t have what it takes. I’d like you to introduce him to Charlotte Brown, a BLIND pole vaulter who is probably headed for college track after high school because she is […]

5 Youth Sports Sites You Should Bookmark

Reading youth sports sites is probably something you think you don’t have time for as a busy sports parent. But while you’re waiting for practice to end or waiting for the game to start, take a few minutes to check the latest on these 5 youth sports sites (after you’ve read JBM Thinks of course!) […]

4 Ways for Sports Parents to Get Recharged

Do you need to get recharged? If you are you a year-round sports family or if you go from season to season with barely a break, then you might be sucking wind as a sports parent. You know, like the kid who’s out of shape and is breathing very heavily as he barely makes it around […]

8 Youth Sports Concerns You Should Answer Before Your Child Starts the Season

Every parent has youth sports concerns before signing a child up to play for a team. And rightly so. Don’t assume anything. It’s always better to ask too many questions than to not ask enough. You will no doubt hear about a team or league’s reputation, but sometimes the gossip only muddies the waters and you really […]

Let’s Hear it for These Rock-Star Sports Moms!

Sports moms and dads who love, support, and are positive voices into their kids are all rock-star sports parents in my book. But these sports moms should get an extra loud cheer, don’t you agree? You might have seen this commercial during the Olympics. I loved it. Take one minute and watch these rock star […]

Family Vacations: How to Cut Down on the Conflict

Family vacations are a blast!  Or maybe not? Part of the problem with them is that we often have such high expectations of how wonderful vacation will be simply because we are so ready to be done with the rat race and get away for awhile. But the honest truth is that choosing and planning […]

5 Topics Coaches and Parents Should Be Talking About

Coaches and parents need to be talking. Not like the “talking” we see, let’s say, during basketball season. The emotions that accompany basketball are a hotbed of conflict between parents and coaches. No, I’m not referring to yelling, cussing, hotly debating, or accusing. I mean TALKING. You know, civil conversations. Parents and coaches probably won’t always agree […]

Getting Cut from a Sports Team: How to Help Your Child Move On

Getting cut from a team is a pain no parent wants their child to experience. Team cuts are final and brutal. What do you say to the crushed, sweaty child who cries or mopes all the way home from the gym or field? My oldest daughter was once cut from a club volleyball team. When […]

6 Questions to ask Your Child’s Youth Sports Coach

How well do you know your child’s youth sports coach? Or any of the coaches helping out, for that matter? An informed sports parents is ready to make the most of his child’s youth sports experience. He’s ready to support, encourage, volunteer, and guide his young athlete through the ups and downs of the upcoming […]

25 Healthy Team Snacks

Healthy Team Snacks are not just for t-ball and peewee soccer. Big kids need healthy food too. When my  oldest daughter played travel softball–from middle school all the way through high school–a mom would always bring a cooler of healthy snacks. Much better, and much cheaper, than the snack bar offerings, for sure! Yes, it […]