Sports Moms, Gatorade & a Giveaway

I Love Being a Sports Mom.

Both my boys have always played sports.

I enrolled them in team sports from the time they were 3 or 4 years old, and we've been through it all: soccer, TBall, basketball, swimming, Tae Kwon Do, baseball and football.

However, this spring, my younger son, who's 9 years old, after originally wanting to sign up for baseball, suddenly developed a case of cold feet when it was time for the first practice.
He didn't want to go.
He decided he didn't want to play baseball.

I had to make a decision.
I knew, if I could just get him there, he'd love it.
This was just his nerves speaking.
He was anxious about not knowing anyone.

So, I bribed him.
I told him that if he'd just go this once, I'd let him to get a small toy at Target afterward.

I'm not proud of my method, but I'm thankful I got him to that first practice because once we arrived, he hit the ground running, and this baseball season has been the most amazing ever...






Now he wants to be a pro-baseball player when he grows up.


He's eating, sleeping and dreaming nonstop baseball.
And, I'm loving being a baseball mom, despite the huge amount of time committed to games and practices.
I see my job now as a support role.
I need to encourage him, keep him hydrated, fueled, well-nourished and well-rested.


And to further reinforce my decision to let my son follow his new dream, I recently had the privilege of being on a call with an amazing Sports Mom, Stephanie Hamm, mother of Mia Hamm, the Olympic, gold-medal, soccer player.

With six kids in sports, the Hamm Family really had to juggle family time and homework in with all their activities...and they didn't have the same resources that we parents have now, resources like the Internet and Gatorade. But, they made it work. Because they saw the value in putting their kids in sports.

The benefits your child will reap from being in sports:

Better overall physical fitness & health

Self-confidence & self-esteem

Discipline

Better motor skills

Better social Skills

Sportsmanship & ethics

The ability to work as a team

Fun

Gatorade has a new campaign to support Sports Moms.




They understand the vital role we play in our children's achievements and have developed a site where parents can find expert advice, insights and information to help give our young athletes the support they need at every stage of competitive development.

Gatorade's new site will also feature webisodes featuring real moms and celeb moms, like Stephanie Hamm.

The Gatorade Sports Science Institute was founded in 1985 to research and educate athletes in hydration and sports nutrition. They employ PhD's, and master-level scientists, many who are past-collegiate athletes and coaches as well as other experts to help them understand the science behind sports nutrition and its role in overall performance.

Did you know that Gatorade is scientifically formulated to keep athletes hydrated and performing at their best by delivering the key electrolytes and carbohydrate energy they need before and during the game?

With Gatorade and BlogHer, we're giving away a $100 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods.  The Sweepstakes last 6/1 to 6/30.  Answer the following questions in the comment section for a chance to win!

Are you a Sports Mom?  What are your biggest challenges as a parent to young athletes?

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry.


This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be
selected.

The Official Rules are available

And there are other Sports Moms giving away gift cards as well!