There are moments when we really earn our mom badges. I had one recently. My brother is a college basketball assistant coach and we recently went to one of his games. My 6 year-old son was SUPER excited! So imagine his complete and utter heartbreak when they lost in overtime by 3 points. He cried soooo hard. Everyone tried to comfort him (no one wants to see a kid bawl!)  but it was me who had to step in and "coach" him through it. I had to do what us moms do soooo well – put on the coaching hat and come up with something really good to put it in perspective. Those hugs and kisses felt among the most meaningful and important of any that I've ditched out over the course of his life, save for a few.  I was really put to the test as a mom when I had to answer those tough questions: "but WHY did they lose if they played so well?" Explaining that life doesn't always go the way we want is a tough adult truth but trying to translate for him was even harder. 

This is the essence of mommyhood. We are coaches in the truest sense of the word. We conduct “practice” with our kids every day and in every "play" we teach them to “score”, play “defense” against life’s ills and ultimately go on to victory. We cheer for them relentlessly and go nuts when they win. But when things don't go their way, we have to help in the healing process. I had no idea what to say but somehow I came up with something. And that something will be what he remembers for years to come because it was the insight, wisdom and reassurance that only a mom can give. 

Whether it's the band aid we apply when they scrape a knee or the ice cream we share with them for their first heartbreak, we earn our badges EVERY SINGLE DAY but we get the badge of all badges when we put on our coaching hats.

Cheers Coach Moms! Follow me on Twitter and tell me your proudest coaching moment @PresidentMommy!