As parents, we are constantly in awe of how quickly our kids grow up.

To that, most of us say "they grow up so fast" or "I wish they would just stay kids forever" in a melancholy tone.

But not on the ice, field or pitch.

Kids are rushed to extra skates, extra tryouts, extra this and extra that, with the hopes of generating the next 11 year old NHL phenom.

We confuse early exposure with future certainty.

Adults get burned out from the laundry list of tasks we have to accomplish within a 24 hour period constantly - work, home life, relationships, etc.

Kids burn out because adults burn them out.

Use the holidays to enjoy time with family, think and talk about something other than sports and SLOW. IT. DOWN!