Let The After-School Activities Begin!

It's time to get out your bleacher seats, thermal cups, and cameras. . .

The time, the costs, the sweat, and the stress (and the scream-cheering) are all for our kids. Because they’re awesome (most of the time) and so are we (most of the time). So, we sign them up for baseball, or ballet, or guitar lessons, or another one of the numerous activities out there to enrich their little, growing bodies. Then we watch them learn new skills, and teamwork, and sportsmanship. And we learn a few things along the way too.

Hey Parents, Stop Trying To Be The Coach When You’re Not

By Angela Anagnost-Repke

“Have fun.”

These are the only two words I tell my son before a travel soccer game. And after the game, I ask, “Did you have fun?” If he is open to talking about the game, I welcome it, but I don’t force it.

I don’t analyze his performance like an ESPN commentator during or even after the games.

Yes, I applaud him on the sidelines as most parents do. “Great defense, buddy!” I shout. I want him to know that, as his mother, I will serve as his #1 fan—even when he doesn’t play that great.

But it’s also important my son understands that I leave the coaching to his coach. Yes, I graciously give that role to him, and leave the role of Mom to me. I’ll admit, as someone who played soccer through college and has coaching experience herself, that this can be difficult at times.

I get why it's hard to keep your mouth shut.

When my son starts a game timid, I have to get a stapler out and staple my mouth shut from shouting, “Get in there!” or “Be aggressive!” I grip the metal bleachers underneath me when he’s trying to stop a goal—hoping he doesn’t get scored on. But it’s important that I keep quiet to help prevent burnout, and most importantly, to keep his love in the game.

As parents, it’s hard not to micromanage the moves of your children, not just in sports, but in all activities our children are involved in. But we need to do our best to step back and let them figure it out. Let the teachers teach and the coaches coach. Our job is to love them, encourage them, support them, and guide them when they need it.

But trust me, they don’t need it during and after every single game or practice.

I witness other parents on the sidelines. They yell at their kids, “Get your head in the game, Joey!” “Tackle that player next time!” But I also watch their child tense up, too. These poor kids, young kids by the way, experience anxiety on that field instead of joy.

Sports and all their after-school activities should be fun—something kids look forward to doing.

They should want to go to practice and compete during games. These activities are about learning more than the game, too. These little players are acquiring character and team-building skills. It’s learning to overcome failures. It’s not always about being the best at something.

The standards are much higher for kids today. We start them younger in sports and work them ragged. It’s not like it was when we were kids. We showed up for practice, played hard, and laughed a lot while playing games. Yes, we worked our asses off, too, but the pressure wasn’t as severe as it is for our children.

I want my kids to look forward to going to their activities.

I want their confidence to soar after wanting to work hard—not by me scaring them to do so.

So, I’m going to do my damnedest to stay out of it by letting my son’s coach actually coach. I’ll fail some days, I’m sure. Staying quiet has never been my forte. But if I try to keep myself in-check, hopefully it will rub off on my kids.

They’ll feel my encouragement instead of my disappointment after their games. I’ll listen to them instead of lecturing them by giving them a play-by-play. I’ll let their coach do that. And in the meantime, I’ll continue to say, “Have fun,” before my son’s games, and hope that he always does.

---

---

RECIPES OF THE WEEK:

Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies

Sheet pan dinners are an easy way to prepare a meal with minimal cleanup—perfect for those nights packed with our kids’ activities. They’re also versatile and can be adapted to various dietary preferences and ingredient availability.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 2 cups of your favorite vegetables (such as broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, potatoes, and zucchini), chopped into bite-sized pieces

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary (or your preferred dried herb)

• 1 lemon, sliced (optional)

• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as parsley or basil) for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). This high temperature will help give your chicken and vegetables a nice roasted texture.

2. Prepare the sheet pan: Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray. This will make cleanup a breeze.

3. Season the chicken: Place the chicken breasts on the sheet pan and drizzle them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and your choice of dried herbs. Rub the seasonings into the chicken to ensure they are evenly coated.

4. Prepare the vegetables: In a mixing bowl, toss the chopped vegetables with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange the seasoned vegetables around the chicken on the sheet pan.

5. Optional lemon slices: For extra flavor, place lemon slices on top of the chicken breasts or scatter them among the vegetables.

6. Bake: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the vegetables are tender. Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts, so use a meat thermometer to be sure.

7. Serve: Once cooked, remove the sheet pan from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired, and serve your delicious and easy sheet pan dinner directly from the pan.

Feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite vegetables or different seasonings to suit your taste. Enjoy your hassle-free meal!

Slow Cooker Pork and Wild Rice

When after-school activities cut into your dinner prep, a slow cooker can be the saving grace.

Ingredients: