February Greetings Everyone!

As we teach, coach, and parent, the following is a message that every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

It comes from LSU’s assistant women’s basketball coach Bob Starkey’s blog: hoopthoughts.blogspot.com. Bob received it from Coach Creighton Burn’s most recent newsletter, with the following message also for coaches and senior members of any team or organization:

“.....while it (the message) obviously is directed towards the influence of a parent on a child, it can also be translated into coaches and their players. I honestly believe that players watch every move we make to read into what we think and believe. One step further, I think it can also be converted for the seniors in your program and how the other players, especially freshman monitor their actions.”

Author Unknown: (written by a former child)

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hung my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in my life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned that we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities even when you didn’t feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt and it is okay to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.’

Please always remember children seem to learn best what they see you doing, not from what you say.