Lead by example

For starters I am not a parent yet, I have a dog who I love very much and that’s why I say who not which. I think of him as he is my child and I try to give him the best care as I can. I work as a tennis coach and daily I introduce the game of tennis to kids in all ages, kids who have played before and children making their first steps on the tennis court. Being a coach, no matter in which area for me is equal of the word guidance. We coaches guide the people who trust us to become better. We are role models. And as an Asics Frontrunner I represent movement, I do my best through my stories and sport experiences to show people that moving brings joy, makes you feel good and to set the example that there is always time to move!

Have you ever walked on the street and seen a family with a small child or a teenager in it, and that kid is overweight. That moment if you pay enough attention, you will catch yourself talking to you “man, this kid is so young and so fat, how did its parents allowed that to happen…” Probably the parents ask themselves the same question sometimes. And they can even argue with their child on that manner, but there is one very important thing – the kid is watching them.

Every child until becoming a teenager is looking up to their parents. Then all of them develop their own character and usual do what they want to do, because they don’t like being told what to do…. Typical teenagers.

I want to talk about this, how and what examples we set to the young generation?

Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy. To read more, to be a good person etc…
Every coach, teacher, every person in the educational area would like his/her students to do the proper things and to behave in certain way. But do we ask ourselves what kind of example are we giving them? Do we actually realize that our kids follow and imitate us?

I will give just a few simple examples from my daily life. I don’t want to tell anyone what and how to do. I just want to inspire people to think more in this direction.

In my job I do my best to be a good role model. To be always on time, with clean clothes (in tennis you often get clay all over you), to be prepared for my next tennis lesson, to always play with my shoe laces tied (it is very important especially when I play with kids), to go on court with water, to be active and motivated. All of this I require from my students and it will be very inappropriate if I want them to cooperate and I personally don’t do those things. It will be a very bad example. Also I try every day to be and look fit. Working as a sports coach I cannot afford looking out of shape, it just doesn’t seem right.

To continue the sport topic, if we want our kids to be active and fit, we need to be active ourselves. We need to set the example. I know it can be very difficult to steal 1 hour or 30 min a day for a workout or any sport. The chance your child to show interest in sport is bigger if it sees you exercise. I think the best way is even to do sport together with them, it will motivate them even more. Activities like hiking/running/football/tennis/basketball are just the first ones to pop up in my mind right now but they are one of the best there are. You do them out in the open areas when the weather allows it and you can do them on vacation time, or during the week.

What we eat and drink…

Eat healthy. I know eating healthy can be very challenging. But we need to try making it our habit because of the young ones. If we don’t eat clean and good food it will be very difficult to teach our child one day to eat more vegetables and fruit instead of burgers for example. Why? Because if we don’t it they will not do it. We need to develop that habit, to start cooking “cleaner” meals. If you still don’t have kids it doesn’t matter. You can start doing it right now so when the moment comes you will be ready for it. You will be a parent with the habit of eating clean and you will be more informed of what and when to eat and it will be easier to you to prepare food for your kid. And like this you are setting a good example for them.

Don’t drink soda and cola. It is very difficult to explain to a child why he or she is not supposed to drink carbonated drinks. Especially if they see you drink it. Try telling them that its bad and makes you fat and so on and so on, they will just answer – yeah but why do you drink it then? You don’t have what to say to that. So don’t keep drinks like that at home, it will be good both for you and for your family.

I am not an expert or even close to one, in this area. These are just the basics manners when it comes to a healthy way of life things. I just want to alert you for the issues that we know that exist but in the everyday routines we often forget and go for the fastest way to eat or drink the first thing we find, and so do your children.

On the streets …

When I am driving I get very annoyed when I see parents with their kids crossing a busy road, where there is no walkway marked, or even worst , it is just 5m away …. Ok I get it, sometimes it is easier, saves time (like whole 2 seconds) I do it also sometimes, but it is wrong! I want to ask the parents, how many times you tell your child to cross the road only where it is marked with a pedestrian crossing signs or where there is a stoplight? And how many times you cross the road with them at places without those markings?

Don’t do things you wouldn’t want your child to do. Have fun, but never forget that you are their role model!

For conclusion I will use one quote which I refer to very often, words which set example to the whole world

Be the change you want to see in the world
Ghandi