Yeah, I was lost. I’ll admit it.

I always wanted to be a good parent. Hey, who doesn’t right?

I wanted our kids to have the tools necessary to be successful in whatever they did.

So, I worked hard to teach them values, morals, skills, and those things that will help them develop into well rounded adults. Really hard. 😓

The emphasis was always on doing the right thing, choosing the correct path, and not wasting time, opportunities, or money.

And for one of our kids who was becoming a young adult, I just couldn’t see it. All I could see was time wasted. Time that should have been spent doing something of value was thrown away behind a computer screen with a PS4 controller in hand. 

I felt like I was losing time and opportunity.

Yeah, I was lost. I’ll admit it. I couldn’t find the right way to teach more, to give more wisdom, to guide better, and to instill valuable life principles. And man, all of this just led to stress and conflict.

Everyone in our home could feel the tension.

I felt frustrated. I didn’t have a good answer on how to parent. But, in all of that messiness of life, I still wanted to be a good parent.

And then it happened. As if appointed by God Himself, my mind was blown as I watched our son play Rocket League. 🤯

For 5 straight minutes, I saw everything I ever wanted to see in our kids. I saw leadership, sportsmanship, adaptability, resilience, grit, and more. I saw split-second problem solving in real time. I heard meaningful communication. I felt like I saw it all.

Then I realized something significant yet so simple: I missed the obvious. Video games allow players to develop and practice problem solving skills. Video games are a platform for creativity and innovation. Video games demand and provide the space to nurture leadership skills.

He was not throwing away time. He was investing time practicing all that I was teaching. Boom. Mic drop. 🎤

Proverbs 22:6 came to mind. Loud and clear. What I heard in that simple verse serves as confirmation that I was doing the right thing that it’s going to be ok. Whew! That was close.

Less than a year ago, three friends from Creative 1 Media spent some time with us here at Slingshot Esports. 

Emily, Megan, and Dilip created this amazing video that captures the essence of this story. Watch it. Not only do they give you a glimpse into what we do at Slingshot Esports, but you’ll hear the revelation that started Slingshot Esports.

Make the connection:

How might we find time to watch our kids play, looking for the different skills and qualities they exhibit?

To see the Slingshot Esport’s origin story, check this video.

We are #ForTheGamer and help players play with purpose and win for good.