“Mom, You’re Going to Win the Piston Cup Championships”

November 2008

by Jeanne Colesanti www.JeanneColesanti.com

That was the interesting choice of motivational pep talk phrases that only my eight-year-old son, Isaiah could fathom and deliver full of the utmost sincerity. This was prior to my one of my earlier competition dates that my eight and six year old children knew full well that for months their mother was getting back into figure competitions. For the weeks leading up to it I was constantly asked and prodded as to the date, time location, suit choices, color, even including my choice of hair color and skin tone… this from my children!

The continual excitement and affirmation of all of these details of my preparation brought back to me the memories of birthing my children. All of you parents can understand as you are very familiar with and recall all the preparations and physically taxing demands on “Mommies-to-Be prior to our children entering in this world. Preparing for figure competitions are in most cases similar. In both cases we prepare for several months in advance and going through literally, a physical metamorphosis as the time and date approaches.

Around my house, its not just me who prepares mentally and physically to compete. My children and husband transform into my team where we work together in order to help mommy get on stage and clinch the “Piston Cup Trophy” or in reality, first place trophy.

Back in 2007, the movie, Cars came out which was a hit at The Colesanti’s House on Family Movie Night. Little did I know it would be etched within my son’s head, as are most movie scripts. Therefore, anytime my son sees a trophy, in his special mind it’s, "The Piston Cup" and symbolizes why mommy must earn first place no matter what, in every competition. Innocently, my 7-year-old would accept no other reasoning about the placing and trophy system. What both of my children knew was that Mom was going to compete and come back with The Piston Cup….just like in the movie. Comically enough, “Mom” did bring back a trophy, although in that earlier competition as the small print underneath the statue read, “Figure Tall Class Third Place.” Of course, as any mother would try to avoid a long justification of the why’s and reasoning's, I told my adult family members not to mention the specifics of my placing and that the children wouldn’t otherwise pay any attention. I thought it could be smoothed over well because they would see a trophy and be satisfied. Well, was Mom ever in for a rude awakening…, without haven't even left the parking lot! Amongst the celebrating and congratulations in the aftermath of the competition, a small hand tugged on my shirt. And with an accompanying voice speaks up with facial expressions filled with total bewilderment. “Uh, Mom, you didn’t win the Piston Cup. It says right here that you came in third place!?” Confirming the verse in the Bible which begins, “….out of the mouth of babes…” so very true!

To my wonderful children: Mom will try harder to win that Piston Cup, my darlings. However, I think already had! What do you think?