First Year of Wrestling...

Well, it's not like professional wrestling with the costumes and chair throwing, thank goodness! Take a book to read for when everyone else is wrestling, stop reading and watch your son when it's his turn, then go back to reading when he's done. Being there is important. Kids may talk like it doesn't matter, but it does. You don't have to love the sport, but being there shows that you love HIM. Be there as often as you can - you don't have to be 100% attendance, but maybe 75% :)

It is actually an amazing and fun sport once you understand it. The sport is all about balance, weights, position, skill, and there is more outsmarting than outmuscleing your opponent than you might think. There is a whole lot that goes into the sport, more than many people know. I can be entertained by WWE (men's versions of a soap opera really), fully enjoy UFC/MMA style fights, Enjoy a good boxing match now and again and I would be happy if my son took up wrestleing (a sport I would enjoy going to) and be just as there if he took up baseball (a sport I would NOT enjoy going to). To be honest, I would be dissapointed as a kid to look up and see my mom reading during MY time on the mat - so make sure you are at least paying attention to him and give the sport a chance.

i think you should try....it's not as bad as you think. it's very methodical and technical. it's not just two kids going at each other (i get very physically uncomfortable even to the point of nausea, when my husband watches those MMA fights, so i know the feeling, but greco-roman wrestling is very different). give it a shot. learn a little about the sport. if you seriously can't handle it then have an honest talk with your son BEFORE you stop showing up.

don't let mamazita turn you off even more. there are "sketchy" kids everywhere, it has nothing to do with the sport. more to do with the coach at that school, more likely.

My high school boyfriend was a wrestler. I grew to love it. I hate the wrestling they have on TV it's so fake. Go to his matches and you learn to have a real respect for the sport.

A dear friend of mine has a son who was on this years U.S. Olympic Wrestling team. His son was the only U.S. wrestler who won a match. I am soooo proud of him.

Def not a bad mom. I hate foot ball. it puts me to sleep. Most sports really I dont care for. But my son is really into it and were just getting him started. I will end up going to his little leauge games and sitting in the stands cheering for the wrong team I am almost sure of it! But I will sit my but down and be there for him supporting him in his healthy intreasts.

Side story of why its important. when my hubby was a kid he walked himself to tryouts...no parents, had a few practices and then a few games...no parents. He dropped out because he didnt have the support of his folks, its embarassing to be the only one with no kids, and hard on a kid to take care of scheduling all on his own. Also sex offenders are looking for that kid whos parents arent involved. Not saying that would happen if you miss these violent games but bring a book, play games on your iphone. just be there. Its important to him/for him to have support and parents who actually care abut his intreasts. Now all that speach...watch him hate it and find a diff activity after one match! lol kidding.

No, you're not a bad mom. :) I love the idea of taking an ipod or book, though. I'm a high school teacher, and my students love it when I go to their events. I've avoided wrestling events, but love my wrestlers. I may steal the idea of taking a book. I know my wrestlers would be so happy to have me attend one of there events.

Good luck to your son! The wrestlers I know are some of the most respectful kids in our school. I don't know why that is, but it's wonderful! :)

ETA: It's what they wear that makes me uncomfortable, not the sport itself.

If someone asked your son if he wanted his mom to be there, he will probably say "yes." There's your answer. There is no better way to show you love him and support him in whatever he wants to do than being there. Never mention your discomfort. Be proud of him, and as Patricia said, bring something to do when he is not competing.

I think you should go. It would be hard for me to watch too. My oldest son is in 9th grade and one of his friends wrestles. He described some of the moves to me one day after his first meet and I had to make him stop because it was turning my stomach. I would probably bring a book and an ipod and only watch my son's meet, but high school is probably a bit rougher than middle school anyway.

Ugh, my son wrestled in 7th and 8th grade. Not because he really wanted to but because his dad and uncles were all HUGE high school wrestlers so it was kind of "expected."
I never liked it, and my son hated it (he ended up running track and cross country in high school.) I know it's a classic, Olympic sport but most of the boys/families that participated were pretty, um, sketchy (sorry, but I'm being kind, the word I really want to use is worse!)
I wouldn't worry about it unless it turns out to be something he really loves, and then I would say suck it up and at least go to to the big/important meets because of course it will mean a lot to him to have his mom there :-)