Talk is cheap. G wants to be the England football captain. There are not many 13 year old girls who are as driven or who works as hard and as relentlessly as she. During the season, she never missed a single 6am training session. She brought the KL trophy back for the school in the 3 years that she was the football captain. She was often the first on the pitch, whether training or match. She analyses her own game as well as watches replays of EPL on TV to learn. She is never without a football stuck to her foot. Her aim is to make her left foot as strong as her right, to be able to score with both feet. She had that extra something that I didnt have, though as a 13 year old, I have ambitions too. Oh, I talked a lot too. But talk is cheap. I wanted to be a gymnast. But my mum had to get me out of bed. And I didnt go for training when I had my period or too much homework. I wanted to ride for England in the Olympics as well, but I hated dressage. I wanted to ride to glory, because I grew up with kids who hang around riding club and later, Cowdray Park Polo Club. Later, at Oxford, I wanted to row for the University team, but get up at 6am on winter mornings, heck, no. When it came to real work, no thanks, it is not for me. I was naturally athletic and fearless, but those gifts alone counted for nothing if there is no devotion, dedication and single-mindedness. From the self, not from the parent. I was talking to a mum here just today about this. How to give our kids that oooomph? I certainly did not have it, and I know why: I had life too easy. I never had to work for anything. My parents provided everything for me. Why bother to strive for anything? Even if I didnt do well at school/in my career, I have good options. I would still have a nice life if I sat on my ass and did nothing. But this child knows that she will be going to live in a council flat and queuing up for the dole if she doesnt get a job. Her father worked long hours in the farm all summer, covered with silage, to pay his university fees. Her two big brothers paid their own university fees with scholarships and sponsorships that they won from their hard work and grit. So she knows the rule ... work hard to get yourself to where you want to go. There is no Bank of Mum & Dad. Good lesson, methinks.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:28:51 +0000
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