Last year, Annie Reneau penned a blog ’12th Man Mom: How the Seahawks are Making Me a Better Parent.’ The blog happened to make it all the way to Seahawks coach Pete Carroll who called Reneau on the phone. She shares 10 things she’s learned from the Seahawks and how she is applying them to her parenting.
What have you learned from the Seahawks?
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As long-time Seattle Seahawks fans, these past two football seasons have been a whole lot of fun for our family. With winning the Superbowl last year and winning the NFC championship this year, the Seahawks are definitely having their day.
But my interest in the current team goes beyond the Legion of Boom, Beast Mode, and Russell Wilson’s studliness. The more I read about them, the more I see head coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks as a fascinating case study in family dynamics. Here’s this group of guys with vastly different personalities and strengths, and a coach who has managed to bring out the best in all of them, both individually and collectively. That’s no small feat.
And on a fundamental level, that’s the same thing we’re trying to do with our kids, isn’t it? Help them reach their individual potentials while working together towards our family’s goals?
So here are ten bits of wisdom I’m swiping from the Seahawks to add to my parenting playbook:
1. Have a Clear Philosophy
Pete Carroll’s “Win Forever” pyramid is impressive and obviously effective, but it’s really not rocket science. He simply married his philosophies of the game with his philosophies on life, created a clear vision of what his team is about, and reminds them of it on a daily basis.
Our kids benefit from having a clear vision of what we’re about, too. What are the central, defining characteristics of our family? What do we value most as a unit? What are our ultimate goals? Do we articulate those things daily for our kids? If not, maybe we should.
2. “Build Confidence. Gain Trust.”
I love that Pete Carroll ties confidence to trust and makes them (almost) the ultimate goal of his program. Players perform when they know they can achieve excellence and when they know their coach will do whatever he can to help them get there. Pete Carroll is the Seahawks’ biggest fan and their loudest cheerleader. Players give their best because it’s expected, but also because they are inspired.
Kids really aren’t any different, are they? Sure, you can push kids with tough love and motivate them with fear and shame. That’s how some NFL coaches get results from their teams, too. But I prefer Pete Carroll’s positive approach, which clearly works and is much more pleasant for all involved. I want my kids to have no doubt that I believe in them, to know that I always have their best interest at heart, and to trust in my leadership.
3. “No Whining, No Complaining, No Excuses.”
Pure gold. Simple. Straight forward. No nonsense. No caveats.
I think I might engrave this on our living room wall.
Continue to the full blog and all 10 of her bits of wisdom at Motherhood and More!
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