I’ve never been much of sports fan. Except back when the 49ers were a team for which I proudly screamed my head off. That aside, I’ve always loved the Olympics. Ordinarily watching TV doesn’t make my list of Family Bonding Activities, but the Olympics, AKA The Games, are a totally worthwhile exception. First off, they’re educational. (Where else can you learn the rules of curling?) More importantly, they offer all the drama you could  hope for. I mean really, does anything beat watching an elite skiier wipe out on the giant slolam?

Starting tomorrow and continuing through Feb. 28 you and your loved ones can gather round the tube and enjoy something unscripted and incredibly special together. And check this for an added bonus,  if 21st century parenting has you frazzled, there may be no better personification of the word “focus” than Olympic athletes in action.

Those folks spend years preparing for their moment at the Games. Either they shine when it counts or they pack it in and hope for another shot in 2016. It’s been said, “Great athletes aren’t great all the time, they’re just great when they need to be.” Same goes for parents. You can be a great parent when you need to be simply by recognizing that now is the moment to put all distractions aside and focus on your child’s needs.

Distractions are… well, distracting. And  we’re all guilty at times of  getting too wrapped up to notice our kid standing right there needing us. Don’t get me wrong when I say focusing is simple. It is simple. In theory. But no way is it easy. If it were, we’d all be great all the time.