Most of the time you just tie, and that's Okay

​It was a timely Ted Lasso episode last night. In a beautiful scene, Ted shares with his mom just how hard it is being a dad. His mom hugs him and tells him, "that's the thing about being a parent, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but most of the time you just tie."

I've wrestled with being a single dad lately.

When I'm with my boys, every moment feels like a win. The challenge is when I'm not with them, which is more often than not. Those moments get to feeling like a loss.

Ted's mom reminded me last night that not being with them doesn't have to equal a loss. It might simply be a tie.

She reminded me that the victories we share in our time together carry over. The memories in the carry over may not feel as good as being in the middle of the victory moments, but they don't have to feel like a loss either.

Being a dad, or really being anything in life, we long to feel like we're winning. We long for ever present signs of victory. Or, at the very least, some reassurance that we aren't losing.

Life doesn't often comply with those longings. Life doesn't always deliver us the thrill of victory or protect us from the agony of defeat. Sometimes life quietly asks us to be okay with a tie.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but most of the time you just tie.

And maybe coming to understand that is a pretty big win. That and a virtual hug from Mrs. Lasso 😊