Are You a Cheerleader or Helicopter Grandparent

Ever since my grandson was three-years-old (he's now 5), he has wanted to play football. I think I may be responsible because I dominate the TV on the weekends to watch college and NFL football games and has witnessed the cheerleader in me getting pretty hyped whether my team is winning or losing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jarod is now eligible to play the sport he loves but grandma doesn't want him to. Why? Because I've heard and read too many stories about the serious injuries that can occur and to make matters worse, some players are doping to become stronger and even committing suicide. Why would I want my grandson to go down that road? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My daughter, on the other hand, says she wants her son to have EVERY OPPORTUNITY to do the things he loves---to experience all that life has to offer and that includes football. So, over my objection, she signed him up to play for the Durham Eagles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The other day I went to see him practice and here's what I discovered: 1) All of his team mates are the same age and just starting out so no one knows anymore than the other one---perhaps other than what they've seen on TV. 2) They're all practically the same size so no one has an advantage in that respect. A few are actually smaller than Jarod. 3) There's more to football than just the physical. It teaches discipline,respect and emphasizes the importance of listening. Lord knows, Jarod can work on that one! 4) It's an opportunity for young boys to have positive adult male role models. 5) The helmets are twice as big as their heads so its amazing they can do anything with them on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As a grandparent, we should not be constantly hovering over our grandchildren to keep them out of harms way. Yes, I do want to shield and protect my grandson from the evils of this world but I also want to be one of his biggest advocates. Like his mom, I want him to experience all that life has to offer so while I'll be rooting for my Cleveland Browns this Fall, I'll also be cheering for the Smokin' Durham Eagles! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is video I shot right after his practice: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~