I look forward to the summer games. Growing up, my family always made a big deal out of it. We would have a “watch party” for the opening ceremonies that usually included food themed around the host country and screaming when the US team made their entrance into the stadium. I have so many memories of sitting in the living room with my family watching athletes like Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Michael Johnson, and of course the “Fab Five” and the “Magnificent Seven.”
For me, it’s more than just the medals and the competition. I love the stories of perseverance and overcoming that come out of the summer games. I love seeing the hugs and high fives between fierce competitors who have so much respect for each other. I love the underdogs who do the impossible and stun the crowds. I get teary-eyed at every medal ceremony and have cried more than once when the athletes hugged their loved ones after winning.
As a mom, I have tried to make the summer games an important event at our house too. This year, we celebrated the Opening Ceremony in our USA gear and ate croissants, macarons, quiche, and french fries. The summer games have been on almost every day since, and I have felt zero guilt about screen time. I love watching my girls’ eyes light up as they watch the best in the world compete. They have been inspired to create their own gymnastic routines, and they pretend to be their favorite gymnasts.
I hope they are inspired in other ways too. I think there is so much we can learn from the summer games that has nothing to do with sports or medal counts. These lessons are what I want my girls to see:
I want them to learn that they can overcome obstacles if they are willing to put in the work. They were watching when Simone Biles had to quit during the last summer games for her mental health, and they were watching when she came back this time and won the gold. We talked about all that Suni Lee had to do to get back to competing after her kidney disease sidelined her for a while. I hope when they want to quit, they are inspired to keep going.
I want them to learn how to support others in their success. One of my favorite parts of watching is when they show other members of Team USA in the crowd and their reactions. This was especially true when members of the women’s gymnastics team were in attendance to cheer on their teammates. They were so excited to watch their friends succeed; the world needs a lot more of that positivity.
I want them to see that we aren’t so very different. The summer games truly bring the world together. Good sportsmanship has been a part of every event we have watched. No matter the country, the athletes congratulate each other. There seems to be a camaraderie between the competitors that isn’t governed by nationality or race. The athletes are united by a common goal. They are all there to do the sport they love and to push themselves to be the best.
I want them to see women who are strong, poised, and powerful. There have been countless female athletes who have absolutely killed it this summer games. As a girl mama, I could not be happier. These female athletes are more than just a pretty face or a talented person. They are real and they have put in countless hours of work to get to this stage. These are the women I want my girls to look up to as role models.
