Only the mothers are wussy in rugby
I was going to write about this but before I typed a single word I saw this report at the Toronto Star.
A Grade 10 student at Marshall McLuhan High School was rushed to hospital with critical head injuries after a school rugby game Thursday at Pope John Paul II High School in Toronto’s east end.
The 16-year-old, identified by friends as “Wesley,” was playing when he came into contact with another player and was injured, according to some witnesses.
G-d have mercy on this child and his parents. This hits way to close to home. I have a son who plays rugby and this is exactly the kind of thing I worry about. Why does my son play rugby? Simply because there is no football team at his secondary school. He would rather play football and thinks rugby is a ‘wussy’ game. Why is there no football team at his high school? Well, because football is expensive to suit up the players in all kinds of protective things like helmets, shoulder and knee pads, etc. – so the pencil pushers have decided it’s much better to play rugby where all a player needs to bring are cleats and the school provides the socks, shorts and team shirt.
I’d rather he play football and so would he but it’s a no go. That poor young man was playing with no protection and possibly against young men the size of my son who at 17 stands 5′ll and well over two hundred pounds. Run fast into my son and its like knocking against a brick wall with nothing to protect your head, neck, shoulders. My son runs into your son and I will guarantee; it’s going to be ugly. I suspect this sick feeling in my stomach will follow me around for all day and come visit every time he has a game until the season ends. If there are any grandparents out there – tell me does the fear every go away? Or does it just intensify as more children join the family? G-d have mercy on parents everywhere.
I pray that G-D watch over this young man and other young men playing sports in high school. There are far too many dangerous accidents. Recently, in Marin County, a young boy was hit in the head by a metal bat and was in a coma for a week or more. Sports for kids should be fun, not life threatening!
I thought of this post over the weekend.
Just last week a 16 yr old died in a small Alberta town while running laps at the track. He had an underlying medical condition that was known by both parents & teachers.
Would I wan’t your son to run into mine? No way.
Would I wan’t him in front of my son? Absoloutly.
“If there are any grandparents out there – tell me does the fear every go away? Or does it just intensify as more children join the family?”
I’m not a grandparent,(you’ll be there before me),but I wonder if who your child marries makes a difference. It shouldn’t, but it makes me wonder.
I mean, what if my son married a Rebellious Romanian Gypsy Jewish Lady who comes with an attitude?
* Before all you other readers blast me for that comment….I may be able to get away with it.*
I heard a saying years ago, that a mother will give her arm for her child…but would that child give an arm for their mother?
I still mull that over.
And we’re in agreement, G-d have mercy on all parents.
I mean, what if my son married a Rebellious Romami Gypsy Jewish Lady who comes with an attitude? I think we both know what you would call him – blessed!
But seriously, I have wondered the same thing – what if one of my children married someone I simply couldn’t abide? My parents weren’t overtly thrilled with any of my husbands but they love my children. I agree it shouldn’t make a difference but what if the child took on all the characteristics of the spouse we couldn’t stand? But then again, it seems to me children are born with their own personalities from the get-go so maybe it doesn’t matter.