Routines and traditions

In sport there are many routines. Teams have routines that are collectively followed. Players also may have their own personal routines that sometimes become almost obsessive compolsive.

I was never one for the 'rituals' before games. I always saw it as taking the focus away from the team aspect by removing yourself mentally from the group. I have played with many guys that had that almost obsessive compolsive pattern not only at games but sometimes at training. Tying their shoes up in the same way every time, same socks every game, same undies every game, shooting by themselves in an almost trance like state, eating the same thing every game day, things like that. The one thing I have to be is early.  I hate being late to anything let alone a basketball game. Im usually the one that will turn up to something 10 minutes prior, while everyone else will get there a half an hour late.

At home we have many routines. I think its nice, it gives our boys a sense of comfort to know when and what is going on without us having to tell them all the time. On the other hand I like to try and vary things up a bit also. Im conscious of not getting into the habit of doing the same thing every day and making sure we do acticvities that are out of the ordinary every now and then.

Traditions are a great thing to install into family life, like routines they give a sense of warmth and a cosy feeling within the family. Christmas is coming up and its always a perfect time to implement these traditions that hopefully our boys, once all grown up, will look back on and remember fondly. Jem cant wait to have her men around one day for family get togethers. She is a big believer in a close-nit family structure, something of which unfortunately her childhood was lacking. Therefore she is intent to make our boys feel even more special at these family occasions.

We, like any family have our bumps in the road but predominantly we are a close, well oiled unit that does a majority of things together. Our goal is to always be that way even when our beautiful boys are living their own lives. When it comes down to it, family is the one and only thing that really matters.