Finding Grit Through Girls’ Sports and Life Lessons

I’ve always been the type of person who pushes myself harder. At fourteen, I wasn’t just looking for any job—I wanted one that would give me what I thought of as financial freedom. So, I picked up trash. Not because I enjoyed it, and honestly, I didn’t care what people thought of me. I had a goal: to make as much money as I could at that age, and I was ready to put in the work to make it happen.

Hard work was second nature to me, and I thought it would naturally be the same for my kids. I figured they’d have that same fire, that same grit: if you want something, you work for it—simple as that. But, of course, I was wrong.

Each of my daughters is different. They don’t all push in the same way, and that’s been a hard lesson for me to accept. One of them has a drive that mirrors mine, while another approaches challenges with a softer determination, and the third finds her own fire altogether that is honestly spicier than mine! 

As a mom, especially one raising girls who are athletes, I find myself asking, "How do I teach them this push? How do I ensure they have grit?" Life is tough, and I believe that perseverance is essential. But what I’ve come to realize is that grit doesn’t have to look the same for everyone.

One of my daughters channels her grit on the basketball court, where her focus and teamwork shine. She pours countless hours into the game, driven by a relentless desire to improve. Another expresses her determination through the discipline and beauty of dance, committing herself fully to its artistry. My youngest mirrors that grit in her own way, tirelessly working to master the basketball skills of her older sister. Their grit might not always look the way I imagine, but it’s unmistakably there—unique, powerful, and perfectly their own.

Girls' sports have been a powerful teacher for my daughters. Through basketball, dance, and track, they’ve learned resilience, discipline, and how to face challenges head-on. Sports help them discover their unique versions of grit, and it’s beautiful to see.

I’ve learned to step back and embrace the idea that perseverance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Grit isn’t about mimicking someone else’s journey; it’s about finding your own. Whether it’s on the court, the track, or in life, the push matters—but so does recognizing that the path to grit is as unique as the individual walking it.

So here’s my advice: Let’s celebrate the different ways our girls show grit. Whether they’re picking up trash to meet a goal, sprinting through the last leg of a race, or simply zipping up their warm-up hoodie and stepping onto the court, their push matters. They’re finding their strength in their own way—and that’s something worth cheering for.