A Mother's Love

Marchers,
I have had a few questions concerning the march from interested parties, notable mothers of marchers. So, as I walked the mower around the yard yesterday, twenty years of coaching, and twenty plus years of fathering came back to haunt me.

Men look at their sons, and want him to be able to take care of himself on his own. Generally, when a boy puts himself in a uncertain situation, a father looks at him to see how he takes care of it, then he will step in, if needed. In this way, the father knows that the son can take care of himself, and takes pride in the way he has raised the young man.

On the other hand, moms seem to have this inherent nature to nurture their young. They want to help their young, no matter the issue, thereby showing their love by care and protection.

What then develops is a Mom/ Dad issue, where the mom looks at the dad as lazy for observing the son's reaction to an issue and not doing anything about it, and the dad looks at the mom as too involved, too modle coddle as she runs interference for the son, shaming and damning others involved, to demonstrate her unique love.

This is a general thought of the sexes, and not an all the time occurrence. To use an absurd dramatization, lets us look at a male child with constipation issues. A mother will stand there and feel sympathy and empathy for the child, hurting for him as he strains, wanting the father to do something; this is her care nature. A father, on the other hand will stay in another room, waiting to hear the magic noise of success, and feeling almost proud when the lad makes his deposit, satisfied by the fact, the lad can make it on his own- he does not need anyone. This is his care nature. What happens in the communication between the two parents is that the mom sees the dad as useless, lazy and non-caring; the dad sees the mom as overbearing, too involved, and overly sensitive.

What I am trying to say is this: Mothers, do not worry about your son, if he signed up, then he is willing to handle nature and the physical discomfort of the march. Fathers do not worry about your son on this march. He will be feed, watered, encouraged and tested; this is what we want of our sons, to do something tough, and finish the mark. We, as men, expect nothing less form him.

Therefore, Mothers, be more concerned if your son signs up, and does not finish the march because it is too hot, too hard, or too exhausting; your husband will want to kick him right in the seat of his new dress.

OK, humor aside, any young man with a good pair of boots, plenty of water, 3,000 calories a day of food (One MRE has 3,000 calories only), and a small to medium back pack can make these hikes. It is mind over matter; if you questions his ability to make these hikes at 15, then you are questioning his youthful manhood, you are questioning his father's upbringing, you are questioning the man he will become. Question less, encourage more. Young men need to be encouraged and respected for their conduct and strength, not given a medal or a reward for participation.

If you are worried about your young man, adapt a Rest Point during the march. In this way, you can keep an eye on him, while providing the other marchers a meal.

Marchers: Train, train, train- for those who make it, they will receive a smile from their fathers, and a grudging respect for their role as young men. That young marchers, in time, will be far more valuable then that chrome plated plastic and wood in the attic. For this is what young men strive for; the respect of older men, and the ability to know, I can do anything I put my mind too.

"Saddle up, we're moving out!"