When my son, Brooks, was born, I figured he would someday participate in sports.
My husband is a big sports fan, so it seemed likely that he would pass his enthusiasm to Brooks as soon as our son was old enough to strap on cleats.
And so it went.
Starting in kindergarten, Brooks tried just about every sport possible — variously playing soccer, basketball, baseball, football and lacrosse. He even spent a couple of seasons on a rugby pitch.
None of that action, however, prepared me for the day he told us he wanted to become a wrestler.
He was a seventh-grader at the time, and my husband was all for it. Doug figured that, because Brooks is also a football player, wrestling would help him stay in shape during the offseason.
I, on the other hand, was horrified. I had attended wrestling tournaments in high school. I knew what was coming, and I wanted no part of it.
My reservations aside, I became a wrestling mom. And, although I’m ashamed to admit it, I’ve hated nearly every minute.
The problem isn’t that the parents aren’t great; they are.
It isn’t that wrestling hasn’t made my son a better athlete; it has.
It’s just that certain things about wrestling make the sport difficult to love — especially for moms.
Here are some of them:
• Wrestling tournaments are long and smelly.
Most Saturday tournaments begin at 9 a.m. With 16 teams and four mats, going from the first match to the awards ceremony takes roughly 12 hours. The boys don’t shower until they’re finished competing for the day, and wrestlers sweat — a lot.
• Wrestling has something called “blood time.”
• Wrestlers sometimes leave tournaments in ambulances.
• The wrestling gifts that keep on giving include MRSA, herpes and ringworm.
All are disgusting, and chances are good that, if your child wrestles, he will bring home at least one of them.
• Wrestlers wear singlets.
For the uninitiated: A singlet is the spandex bodysuit that wrestlers wear during competitions. And, sure, everybody gets a good laugh upon seeing a big, strong guy in a small spandex bodysuit —unless, of course, the big, strong guy is your son.
• At some point, wrestlers get tied up like pretzels.
Even if that happens only once to your wrestler, you won’t forget the image.
I am entering my sixth season as a wrestling mom and just starting to get the hang of it.
I still need time to figure out the basic rules of scoring, primarily because following a match is difficult when you’re covering your eyes with your hands.
But here’s the thing: Despite the drawbacks, I’m glad that my son is a wrestler.
Something about the grueling practices, the painful takedowns and the agonizing defeats helps build character in a kid.
And something about a wrestling victory feels especially gratifying.
Wrestling is good because the sport isn’t easy.
Once you’ve faced somebody down on a wrestling mat, it seems, you start to believe there’s nothing you can’t do.
As a mom, I’d give just about anything to have my son know how that feels — even if it means giving up 12 hours on a winter Saturday.
Just don’t expect me to watch.
Amy Gilmore, 50, of Worthington will spend today at the Pioneer Invitational, where her son will wrestle in the heavyweight division for Thomas Worthington High School.

ccrunner609;1358363 wrote:Jesus what aprude . If you dont like it, dont go.

I think you completely missed the point of her article.

ccrunner609;1358363 wrote:Jesus what aprude . If you dont like it, dont go.

Comprehension Fail and cussing in the HS forums...SMH.

All she wrote true statements. I'm quite sure many mothers will echo her words. I have heard them from my wife frequently and she too is at the Pioneer Invitational today with my two sons. But my wife watches intensely and is probably more critical than my sons coach lol.

ccrunner609;1358363 wrote:Jesus what aprude . If you dont like it, dont go.

Huh?
Did you not read the end.

But here’s the thing: Despite the drawbacks, I’m glad that my son is a wrestler.
Something about the grueling practices, the painful takedowns and the agonizing defeats helps build character in a kid.
And something about a wrestling victory feels especially gratifying.
Wrestling is good because the sport isn’t easy.
Once you’ve faced somebody down on a wrestling mat, it seems, you start to believe there’s nothing you can’t do.
As a mom, I’d give just about anything to have my son know how that feels — even if it means giving up 12 hours on a winter Saturday.
Just don’t expect me to watch.

Great stuff !

Cthelites;1358439 wrote:Huh?
Did you not read the end.

But here’s the thing: Despite the drawbacks, I’m glad that my son is a wrestler.
Something about the grueling practices, the painful takedowns and the agonizing defeats helps build character in a kid.
And something about a wrestling victory feels especially gratifying.
Wrestling is good because the sport isn’t easy.
Once you’ve faced somebody down on a wrestling mat, it seems, you start to believe there’s nothing you can’t do.
As a mom, I’d give just about anything to have my son know how that feels — even if it means giving up 12 hours on a winter Saturday.
Just don’t expect me to watch.

Great stuff !

You'll have to excuse CCrunner. He's a teacher. Good thing he doesn't teach creative writing.

While I was much more agreeable to wrestling than this mom appears to be, I can understand every word of her post. Wrestling is a very tough sport and it's not always easy to watch, but the wonderful things the sport teaches your son makes it more that worthwhile. Great post!

Amy, Your son will be a better man because of wrestling!!! Enjoy it now because YOU will probably miss it when he is done.

CCRunner, don't be knockin' Brooks' mom. Brooks is cool and Brooks' mom is too. Great people!

ccrunner609;1358363 wrote:Jesus what aprude . If you dont like it, dont go.

You're a retard. Get off of here and go run your jobs on the cross country forum you judgmental -edited no cussing-!

It would be very unusual to see a heavyweight tied up like a pretzel!!

Con_Alma;1359624 wrote:It would be very unusual to see a heavyweight tied up like a pretzel!!

I bet gusan could tie him up like a pretzel lol

Lol...maybe. He's certainly not a "usual" heavyweight.

Guys no cussing!

?????

Fab1b;1359676 wrote:Guys no cussing!

sorry fab.... ccrunner is just an idiot. Great article and he is trying to put it down pretty much. Totally missed the point of her article.

What a great article. I so can relate. When my son came to me as an 8th grader and said he wanted to wrestle and not go into basketball after football....to say I was shocked is a total understatement. My first mistake was calling the singlet a onsie, (boy did I get an ear full at that moment). I have since seen my son who wrestles for Gahanna become a better young man with a character and manner in which he carries himself exemplary. As a mom of a wrestler, I hear what you are saying but honestly wouldn't trade a moment of those saturdays seeing the wins and loses for each of those who engage in this sport. Once a wrestler, there isn't a whole lot that can bring you down. I will continue to wash those sweaty nasty clothes and spray out bags and shoes, pack proteins and make sure my son is up and out the door for early morning lifting and practices with a bit a sleep in my eye, a smile on my face and a "I am so so proud of you" each and every day! Kudos to all wrestling parents and a standing ovation for all those atheletes that compete with all they have!

Curly J;1358458 wrote:You'll have to excuse CCrunner. He's a teacher. Good thing he doesn't teach creative writing.

You just need the first sentence of that post. It's sort of a be-all, end-all for just about anything he posts on anything, to help those uninitiated into his own special blend of trying to be an Interwebz tough guy mixed with utter cluelessness.