Could parenting be considered an Olympic Sport?

Photo courtesy of www.newdressday.com.

I must first send a shout out to Gold Medal winner Gabby Douglas for being a trail blazer in her event. She took home the Gold in gymnastics as the first African American to win the individual all around gold medal. The hard work and dedication she gave to her sport was evident in her delivery.

Let’s take a look at the lighter side of Olympic Sports. Considering all of the things a parent or caregiver does, I think some things should be considered an Olympic Sport.

A staged photo means come as you are...even while eating an apple.

Here is my list of things that would qualify for the Parent Olympics.

Sprinting – cooking dinner, monitoring homework time and getting the kids to after school activities on time.

Hurdles – jumping over piles of clothes, toys, shoes and backpacks in order to get to your bedroom.

Slalom/Driving the carpool – you have to get kids to school on time, pull into the correct drop off lane, pick up on time, dodge squirrels in the road and mediate disputes between the passengers.

Balance Beam – finding time for yourself as well as spending time with family.

Diving – when the new school year starts, you dive into back to school shopping, fundraisers, and serving on committees.

You don’t have to fold under the day to day challenges of parenting, just consider them one more hurdle to conquer. The difference between the real Olympics and my idea of Parenting as an Olympic sport is that we can all be gold medal winners.

What would you add to the list of events for Parenting as an Olympic Sport?