To all the new hockey parents—yes, you will complain about the early mornings that turn into late nights. There will be no free weekends. You will yell at the refs from time to time, and you might even get frustrated with a coach. You will feel the stress of tryouts every spring.
But while all of that is happening, your child will be building lifelong friendships—and so will you. They will learn what it means to be part of a team, gaining lessons and life skills that go far beyond the rink.
And when it finally comes to an end, you will realize that every early morning, every late night, every busy weekend, messy house, and pile of laundry was worth it. Because somewhere along the way, you both fell in love with hockey—all because you gave them a stick.
So give them the stick. Enjoy every moment—the complaints, the tears, and the cheers.
