You don’t have to be in Vancouver to get caught up in the Olympic excitement. This is coming from someone who does live in the Games headquarters who resisted the scene at first: the traffic. The line-ups. The expense. I admit I was a naysayer. But I’ve been won over—largely because of what the Games are teaching my kids, and it’s not just sports-related stuff.
The Opening ceremonies were a great lesson on Canada’s diversity—geographical and cultural. What a neat way for my four-year-old to learn about First Nations, Northern lights, Prairie crops, music from the Maritimes, Rick Hansen, and slam poetry.
The sporting events too have shown him the importance of getting up if you fall down, and trying again and again and again without ever whining. Once disinterested in learning winter sports, now, having seen the snowboard cross, he can’t wait to take lessons.
As extraordinary as it was to see Alexandre Bilodeau score that gold, it was his immediate and moving nod to his brother, who has cerebral palsy, that kept us all glued to our TV set.
All of the national pride on display is astonishing. I’ve never seen anything like it. People everywhere are wearing red and white, and the maple leaf is flying all over the place. My two-year-old has learned to say “Go, Canada, go!”, which is pretty darn cute in someone whose words have come slowly.
Then there is the buzz in downtown Vancouver. We went as a family on Valentine’s Day, and by 9:30 a.m. on that Sunday morning, the streets were packed, a sea of red and white. People were happy, friendly, and smiling.
I’ve never felt so proud to be a Canadian. And I’m happy my boys are learning what that means.