Advice From Jimmy's Aunt Gladys
Q: Someone I work with has continually complained about the soccer memorabilia around my desk. She seems like a nice enough lady, but the negative comments are starting to get to me. I should also point out that this same person has an extensive cat collection strewn about her own cubical. “Hang in there!” …Really???
A: You didn’t actually ask me much of a question, so perhaps you were writing to vent. At various times throughout life, you will be involved in situations where your social skills will be tested. You can choose to handle this in a bad way, or you could do the right thing and set her desk on fire when she goes on a smoke break. It is up to you. Good luck!
Q: Two of my u-12 players have a personality conflict and are constantly at each other's throats. Do you know of any techniques that I can use to get my players to focus their energy on their opponents instead of each other?
A: Kids 12 and younger have an active dislike for people they don’t like; a lot like anyone, really. They have a difficult time focusing on any one thing for very long. Keep mixing up the drills with small-side games during practice. Before your next game, offer to pay for one of the families to move to Florida, or you could encourage one of the children to play basketball instead.
Q: I cannot believe I have to write this letter, but there is no one else I can turn to. I got swept up in some Lenten peer-pressure and gave up soccer until Easter. As the starting goalkeeper, I couldn’t have picked a worse time for this since we have an important tournament coming up. What can I do, Aunt Gladys?
A: When my nephew Jimmy was a boy, he once gave up candy for Lent. He used to get into scraps with some of the other kids in the neighborhood. After dinner, he might have a Popsicle or a cookie if he finished all of his peas. Those were good times.
The advice dispensed in this column is from the heart and soul of Jimmy's Aunt Gladys and no one else. Jimmy claims that she is a delightfully stubborn woman who demands respect with the back of her hand.
