SimplyMom: Born In The USA

Posted by Mary

As I've said before, I'm a US citizen, born and bred in the USA. A Jersey girl, even.

And that being said, I have to comment on the news of recent weeks. After all, to quote the incomparable Jimmy Buffett, "It's been quite a summer."

Let's start with the good news - the Olympics. I got to admit - I give myself permission to be a downright couch potato every four years so I can watch my team (the red, white and blue one) perform on the nation's stage. As a former swim team member (way back in the 70's), I have always been partial to the swimming events, and I have clear memories of Mark Spitz gliding through the water, winning gold after gold. So of course I was rapt as Michael Phelps - who seemed built for water sports - shattered world records on his way to record gold. And I had to applaud single mom Debbie Phelps, who took a child with ADD and taught him to focus in such a productive way. (And profitable as well!) As the mom of a son with ADD who took a very different approach, I must salute her.

I also salute our Olympic gymnastics team, who took the high road amidst suspicion about competitors' age and judges' decisions. I watched in marvel as the women flipped, vaulted, pirouetted and performed amazing feats. (I mean - how can they get their bodies to go that way?) But what I admired most was the poise once the competing was done. Win or lose, they made me - and our country - proud.

Okay, so I realize I'm a little late in chiming in with this. But it's September, and organized sports are returning in a big way to my children's lives. And I have to think back and hope my kids learned what was taught during this year's games - that labels like "ADD" should never limit us; that we can bow to adversity or we can rise to the challenge; that we can always be more than the scores flashed on the board. The real gold is to be found in our sportsmanlike behavior, our effort and our dignity - win or lose.

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SimplyMom: Born In The USA

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