Life

There are days where we feel defeated.  We feel like we give it our all and our kids don't get it.

When I say "get it", maybe I mean understand what we all go through each day.  That what we are trying to do is to make them better people..first and foremost.  

Do they understand that we make them do homework because they have to practice to get a concept?  It is not because we like to correct papers.  We don't sit at home at night and rub our hands together, laughing diabolically at the thought of them doing said homework.

Do they understand that we are helping prepare them for something bigger than high school?  We are preparing them for life.  

Life.

The place where you will have deadlines for projects, reports, and bills...and you don't get an extension if you forget.  And if you do forget, it may result in you not having water at your house.

The place where you will need to work in order to get a promotion, get a good grade, impress a girl/boy.

The place where you don't always get a redo.  You get what you get.

The place where you won't like everyone you meet or have to work with, but you will have to get along with them.

The place where you won't like your boss.  But you will do what they say because...well...they are your boss.

The place where you will be expected to show up on time, stay until the last bell, and perhaps show up when you don't feel 100%.

The place where you will earn success on your own, through your hard work.  As the sign outside my office says, "The only place where you will find success before work is in the dictionary."

Life.  It isn't fair.

It isn't suppose to be.

It is March Madness and in this madness we can heard the words of great coaches talking about their teams.  People look to them for insight on the game.  I have found some of the most powerful things these coaches say have little to do with their players as players, but rather with their players as people.  

Coach Geno Auriemma is the coach of the UConn women's basketball team.  This is the team that has a 111 (and counting) win streak, has made the final four 10 straight times, and has won the NCAA National Championship four consecutive years.  People love him.  People hate him.  Regardless...he has said some pretty powerful things during the tournament.

Check out these two clips.  If you have HBO, watch "The March to Madness".  It is a limited series about the UConn team and their quest for their fifth straight championship.

While he likes to win, he wants good people to wear the UConn uniform, not just good players.

Take the time to listen to what these coaches (and like us, they are teachers...teachers of a game...teachers of life) have to say.  There are some very powerful messages for our kids that go beyond Xs and Os.