Being a Wresting Mom

Joel and I

Wrestling in Leon, Iowa

  It his hard to believe this is my 2nd year as a Wrestling Mom. To tell the truth I never cared for the sport. Last year when I was looking for an outlet for my son to get rid of all his stored of energy that gets stored up during the winter due to being cooped up; someone had suggested putting him into pee wee wrestling. So, I asked Joel, and had him watch some pee wee wrestling videos. He decided to give it a try. Come to find out the sport of wrestling did more than give him an outlet. He has learned sportsmanship, met new friends, learning how to work as an individual but as a team. Last year he mostly took 4th places and one 3rd. This year so far he has had a few 4th places, Couple of 3rd places, and Couple of 2nd places. 

Wrestling in Norwalk

Joel 2nd place at Anita

  Joel really loves the sport. Which I am glad he found something that he is still wanting to do. There really isn't much for children Joel's age to do where we live during the winter besides home, school, and church. We have no Y's or Recreation Centers of any kind. So, wrestling it has been these past two years. Joel is happy and having fun at the same time. Yes he has lost many matches, and ends up getting 4th place in his bracket. But he gives it his best, and that is what makes him a winner in my eyes. He also has great sportsmanship. He tells his opponnet good luck before that match, and good job at the end. He shakes the other person coach or parents hands. As his kids in his bracket is wrestling each other he cheers on both. He also cheers on children that that he has became friends with or friends with that are in other brackets. Joel is there for others that are part of his wrestling team cheering them on as well.

Joel Smiling with Bobble Head Trophy

   People have asked if I really don't like the sport then why do I let me son wrestle. To me it doesn't matter if I like a sport or hate a sport it is not me who doing it; it is my son. If he likes something and sticks with it, I am all up for being there for my son. If it means the world to him, then it needs to mean the world to me. I guess in a way I have found a few things I love about the sport of wrestling. It makes my son happy. I love seeing him smile, and cheer for others.

Joel 4th at Norwalk

This is what a day of wrestling does

  So, what is it like being a Wrestling Mom: Well, good things right now with Joel being so young we don't worry about sticking to a strict wrestling diet. Due to my health issues anyway we eat pretty healthy already. So we just do good at maintaining his weight. Being a Wrestling mom has its good and bad moments for sure.Do to no Dad Joel has me. So here it is like being a Pee Wee Wrestling Mom: There is sitting in practices every week with the smell of sweat, but at the same time enjoying my son learning new wrestling moves. There is Joel wanting to practice moves on me, I wear out fast, but worth having him wanting to get better to do better. There is the waking up early sometimes before dawn to drive to get to a tournament, but my son and I get to see the sun rise together. There is no eating until after weigh in. Joel can get a little grouchy waiting to eat, but staying the same weight area is good thing so he doesn't wrestle in a different group. There is the long waits between weigh ins and for wrestling to begin. Joel gets rather bored, and I will admit I do too. But thank goodness for Nabi's, and iphones that have games. There is watching my son wrestle. I will admit I go from Mom mode to Extreme Mom mode. I get nervous because I know there is always a chance of him getting hurt. I also probably seem to have the biggest set of lungs on the side of the mat as I cheer on my son. I will admit I am loud. It is my son on the mat so I have the right. What bothers  me is how some parents (usually it is a dad) treat their children after they wrestle a match. I have seen parents get in their child's face and scream at them for losing. Sometimes they can win, but not good enough in the parent's eyes. I refuse to be that way with my son. I will admit I still don't know a lot about wrestling (why I always as the coaches when I see them about something, or how to tell Joel something). After a match you can always see me telling my son positive things, and giving him the biggest hugs. When he loses a match I ask him if he learned what he needs to work on, or tell him lets go for the next one. I think positive critsim is better specially for my son's again. Example: "Hey you might of loss, but you didn't get pinned," or "You might of loss but you had some awesome escapes."

Joel on top during match at Leon

  Being a "Wrestling Mom!" is just a okay with me. I get to spend time with my little guy. Long drives, Busy weekends, paying for tournaments and admission, lack of sleep on weekends they make take a toll, but watching my son have fun and do something he loves: IT IS PRICELESS! So, people can call me what ever they want, or think what they want. I am a proud WRESTLING MOM, and will me as long as my son has the love for the sport. No matter what sport or what he chooses I will be there for him. The number one thing is that my son knows he can count on his #1 cheerleader..... HIS MOM!