My Failure For His Fears

I was determined to play in the Parents versus Staff basketball tournament and my boys were so excited!

Saturday morning rolled around and I put on my husband's sports tights, my t-shirt and I was so ready to get to the gym. I invited my family and friends to be on my personal cheerleading squad. 

As we get teamed up at the gym, I was so psyched that it didn't matter that the team vests that we were given were youth sizes and looked like a tube top on me. I was ready, on fire, ready to drop some buckets! That was until the game started………………………..

The 1st quarter started and the coach told me to get ready. I told him I needed more time, I wasn’t ready just yet. Clearly the coach, who happened to be my husband, was sooooo irritated. I had spent all night telling him how I was going to be a beast, and NOW I needed more time. Ok second quarter and I am getting amped up. I’m talking to myself, drowning out the voices in my head. It’s time to send in a sub and I’m about to unleash the hulk. The coach calls my name and I stand up, walk over to him and say, "I just need a few more minutes”. Truth is, last time I played ball at 8 years old, I had shot the ball into the wrong goal and I was still terrified that I would do it again 25 years later.

So the game went on. I talked to the Lord, talked myself and anyone else that would talk to me. This was very few because all the other parents were annoyed that I hadn’t hit the court yet. Ok......4 minutes left in the game and I AM IN! I get the ball in my hand, terrified, I get in my stance, release and in the basket it goes!!! Yes, yes, yes!!! No cheers, complete silence? I look up to see what's going on and I was at the wrong goal again!!!! I was humiliated, devastated and so embarrassed. My next thought, “I have humiliated my babies. My boys won't live this down”.

Game over! Amen! My son comes up and says "great shot mom, wrong goal but nice shot". My heart was overwhelmed with thankfulness that he still loved me and called me mom. He had not shrunk under my failure.

It was my determination to play in another game and redeem myself. Low and behold I played this past Saturday at the boy's Hoop It Up Birthday Celebration. I played the best five minutes ever!!!! Shot the ball at the right goal, not even close, didn’t event touch the rim or the next. Missed the goal completely, but it was the right goal.



I talked to my son about my performance in the game tonight and he told me, “you couldn't quit just because of the last game, you did good mom”. What a valuable life lesson my failure was for him. On the court or off, never let the fear of failure stop you!

The Beast

My son is literally the fastest kid on the field and on the court. His football career has been stellar and he was recognized at the MVP of his season. Can we say soooooo proud. So going into the basketball season, I had absolutely no doubt that he would release the inner beast. Yes mam, I could wear my referee shirt and talk dog smack everytime they made a bad call on my baby. Because undoubtedly, he was going to be the best.
Ohhhh boy was I wrong!!!!! The first AAU tournament night, which happened to be right before Christmas, baby moved like spoiled milk. It was apparent that something physically was wrong and that he was suffering from ADD and some type of stamina shutdown. Once the game was over, I hug him so tight and told him everything would be okay and that we would talk in the car and that we would go to the doctor on Monday. On the ride home, as we were talking, my son told me that he was just so tired and exhausted and he couldn't understand why because he had eaten a whole bag of Christmas candy at the class Christmas party, including four full size candy canes, two cupcakes and three cookies. Feeling highly irritated and relieved, that my son has suffered a sugar crash and burn. Wiping sweat from my forehead, I knew that the next game would be off the charts amazing for him. He was going to DOMINATE!

The second tournament rolls around and I am self assured that my son is on point and ready to go.............right? Wrong!!!! And don't get me wrong, he's good, he's explosive and confident, but NOT IN THE GAME! There's an open shot, MAKE IT! THROW THE BALL AT THE GOAL! DON'T PASS IT, SHOOT IT! Oh my goooooosssshhhh, I'm thinking to myself! WHERE IS YOUR AGGRESSION, WHERE IS THE BEAST! THIS CANNOT BE THE SAME KID THAT I SEE ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD!

After this long game of "NOT LETTING MY CHILD GET LOOSE" I feel it necessary to have a one one come to JESUS talk. So while listening to the hum of my Armada, I proceeded to ask my son what was going on. And as he begins to mutter out his reasons, it dawns on me that he hasn't realized that HE HAS A BEAST INSIDE OF HIM. Just what I needed a reason to put my smooth negotiation skills into play.

I called my husband to the bedroom for our daily business meeting! Our business tonight is my baby and his beast. I propose that he goes under contract. Even as children, my kids learned the value of a dollar in their desires to get McDonald's Value Meals and the latest Lebrons. So I called my son into the room and offered to sign him to a multi - dollar contract. For every aggressive, beast move that he made on the court. I didn't know if this would work, but it was worth a try to me!

Sunday morning off to the game we go! He gets on the court. My heart is racing a mile a minute and I decided to hold off before I started telling the refs how they needed to turn in their whistles. He starts off a little slow, but later what do I see, A BLOCK! Shut'em down son, shut'em down! What was that a SHOT, oooooohhh he missed. But that's alright because when he looked up at me, I said, " you are still getting a check baby, you are still getting a check!

Ahhhhhh the joy of watching the Beast unfold! And of course the naysayers will complain about paying my kid to channel his inner beast. And how is that any different from giving my child his allowance for doing his chores. Some parents channel the cleaning genie, I choose to channel the untapped potential!

Written by Keschia Martin, Blogger, "She Was At All My Games"

If Miles Will Just Trust Us!

I have personally written about Miles Smith before. But, I am so excited to get the point of view of his Mother; to discuss this journey from talented RB to being sought after for your performance on the field and the classroom. Just like TaQuon Marshall I am so proud of him. And, it is a joy to talk to Tiffany and Tonya about the young men in their homes who have defied all the odds so far. That's what "She went to all of my Games," is all about. To give another side to the story....to the journey.

Tiffany Marshall & Son TaQuon Marshall

I have followed Tiffany when she didn't know I was paying attention. I have been blessed to watch her relationship with TaQuon for awhile now. And, the journey and the path the Marshall has taken has been nothing short of amazing. Because of the parenting skills and the love for their children TaQuon has flourished. A stellar high school football career has lead to offers and a commitment to Ga Tech Yellowjacket Football. This blog is where you will find the thoughts of Tiffany Marshall about the process and get some behind the scene news about TaQuon's next step. Welcome Tiffany!!!!

Excited For The Concept Of The Blog

This Blog will be dedicated to the Moms. I want to chronicle their experiences with the athlete in their home and/or on the field of play right now. We will look at the path of the athlete and how faith and perseverance got them to the point they are at now. The process is just as important as the journey itself and I am positive we all can learn something through their blogging and testimony.