| JDaniel, my husband and the boys next door playing baseball. |
This post is the third and final post in a series called Olympic Values. The first week looked at respect and the second week’s post looked at excellence. This week’s post is on friendship.
The Olympic value of friendship is defined this way:
friendship– how, through sport, to understand each other despite any differences
Although there have probably been many friendships talked about and shown on Olympic broadcasts in the past, I don’t remember seeing as many as I have this year. That may be because I knew I would be writing this post.
My favorite mention of friendship has been Oscar Pistorius and the other men who ran in the 400 meter run. Oscar runs on carbon-fiber blades. After his run over the weekend against Usain Bolt and many others, many of the runners including Bolt came over to him and congratulated him. He didn’t win the race, but he had finished it and they were happy for their friend.
Oscar Pistorius commented to a reporter that on the track the other runner were athletes that were there to win, but off the track these men were gentlemen that had encouraged him as a friend. He continued say that he has competed with and stayed at the same hotels with many of them. “You develop friendships with these men who you see everyday,” Oscar noted.
Many of the Olympic athletes train or compete against the same people over and over again. While they are training in their sport, they are given amazing opportunities to get to know people from all over the world.
How are we working on this value?
This summer many of JDaniel’s friends have been traveling all over the country, attending summer day camps, and just haven’t been available. Even the little boys next door have been busy to do more than play a few games of baseball.
He has really missed getting to see them and I have missed his getting to be around children his age. We have had to look for new ways to meet and plays with kids.
One place we have sought out new friends in at the pool. At first some of the children at the pool were kids from his preschool. He loved getting to see them and play with them, but as the summer wore on they weren’t there. Maybe they too on gone on trips or attended summer camps. JDaniel then had to meet new children and learn to ask them to play.
Thankfully he warmed up quickly to the idea. We haven’t seen some of his new friends again, but a few we have. It has been nice to watch him interact with new friends.
He still misses his best friends and is looking forward to seeing them this fall, but this summer he really worked on learning how to make new friends.
The Olympic value of friendship is now something JDaniel has experienced first hand. He and his new friends may not have been competing in an Olympic swimming event, but they have learned to be enjoy being around each other in the water.
If your children have been excited about watching gymnastics at the Olympics, they might enjoy walking on rope letters. I am sharing a Learning Letters: Rope Letters post on Kid’s Activities Blog today.
Making new friends isn’t always easy. Glad JDaniel learned to enjoy some new folks!
Love the idea of using the Olympics for life lessons. The art of making friends is important but at any age we can get in a rut focusing on the same people and not reaching out to anyone new. It’s so interesting that I just had this same conversation with my 22-year-old son last night!
Thanks for the food for thought.
great post – we do character building almost daily. Your a good mama! 🙂
Character building is a great thing!
Great job! character building is more important than the other stuff 🙂
Friendships are so important! It was fun to watch daughter really develop friendships in school this year, but she doesn’t mention missing her friends much – I guess she is too busy herself, and she still saw her best friend often enough.
I can attest that making new friends is not always easy. My oldest son makes new friends everywhere they go (he prefers tween ages girls), while my little boy often keeps to himself.
It’s a great feeling when you see your kids playing with new buddies, isn’t it?
Sofia
My daughter met several new friends this summer at the pool too!
Good idea with the rope!! Excellent outdoor learning activity – thanks for sharing that!
I’ve also been impressed by the way the women’s gymnastics team members have supported one another.
He is learning good things this summer!
=)
We are going to an Olympic themed b-day party this weekend. Should be fun.
I think friendship is one of the greatest gifts we have. Thanks for sharing your post!
Another wonderful post. Thank you. Friendship and valuing / nurturing friendship is so important!
excellent post!
I especially like that Kirani James approached Oscar Pistorius to exchange name plates. very cool.
Important lesson to be learned!
its tricky when kids all have different schedules and don’t get to see each other over a summer. Great post.
friendship is a great thing… I am so excited for broxton to make friends at school, as there are no kids his age around us…
It is hard to make friends even as adults. What a great experience for JDaniel.
friends are so important (a every age!)
I just love this. What a great way to teach what the Olympics are really about.
Enjoy the friends, little guy!!!
Watching Oscar Pistorius was definitely my favorite part of the Olympics. I like the connections you drew between the Olympics and real life values. Very insightful 🙂
Stopping by from SITS
Great lesson to learn during the olympics.
What great lessons you have done with the Olympics. Thanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Just to let you know, I’ll be featuring you this week! Thanks again for sharing!
Great idea! I would love to have you link this up to my linky party! http://domesticrandomness.blogspot.com/2012/08/friday-fascinations-2-olympics-linky.html