I know, I know. I promised to be more regular with my posts after my brother’s untimely passing. Frankly, I haven’t been fired up enough about anything lately besides Tony Weiner and his unsavory solicitations and Harold Camping’s apocalyptic misfire to warrant coming on board and sharing my opinions.
Until today.
Thanks again to Drew Curtis and his remarkable website Fark.com and all his minions of loyal submitters. This one is a peach. Or maybe, since it’s a Florida tale, it’s an orange.
Here’s a tale of a dedicated mom who wanted to ensure that her displeasure over her son’s failure to make a travelling Little League Team was made well known to everyone involved. Link it, por favor:
Your child doesn’t make the cut. I’m sorry to hear that. Where does that give you license to then set about ruining the life of the coach who cut him? I agree with one of the respondents to the article where she is admonished to spend the time and effort seeking to improve her son’s skills rather than stalking the coach and sending threats to his wife and daughter. Doing it in writing kind of sets you on the road to no return since physical evidence is hard to disprove. Reporting false accusations of beating his children to family services is also a bad idea since the principal of the school is a mandated reported and everything is documented. Dumb. All around dumb.
To put it in perspective, my step son from my first marriage was a very talented athlete growing up. Still is. He also worked hard to be that way adding a rigorous routine of practice to his busy school life to add skill to an already natural talent. He tried out for teams and made them. Others didn’t. But the same kids came back the next season to try again, and the parents supported the process as part of life. Some of his friends didn’t make teams they mutually tried out for. They were still friends. I don’t recall social workers and abuse investigators disrupting the lives of the coaches. It’s counterproductive. It’s also unrealistic. Life is not a series of blazing successes. We fall down. It’s only natural.
I was a passionate parent fan and supporter. I cheered loudly and felt the sting of every loss. From being part of a National Championship college baseball team, I am keenly aware of what it feels like to be a winner. I also know what it feels like to lose. Both experiences teach you life lessons that are worth more than many other lessons taught in school. But my desire for my stepson to succeed didn’t push me into the realm of becoming a criminal.
When I was a kid, I was cut from a soccer team. I turned out okay. My Dad didn’t accuse the coaches and organizers of buggery or other shenanigans. He said try again next time. I did, made the team, then gave up the game when during the championship game my influenza decimated team showed up with five players against the other teams full compliment. Seeing how unfairly the other team’s coach wanted to win despite us being out-manned two to one drove the competitive desire from me. The result? We tied two all.
I say all that to say this to this apparent herd of over-the-top parents out there: grow up and help your kids do the same. We all know that sports are a great teaching tool and have life lessons imbedded in every practice, game, and sacrifice to even be able to play. We also know that college expenses are high and scholarships are great. But please don’t forget: academic scholarships are wonderful too. Not every kid is an athlete. Not every kid is the next LeBron James or Derek Jeter. I have known some parents who promote their talentless child as the next big thing only to embarrass the kid into humiliation from his peers.
Competition is great, and there are more ways to compete than on a field, track, or golf course. Every month I’m treated to hearing academic accolades from star students in my school district who compete academically. My son eschews sports in favor of learning everything about anything. Will I push him to be an athlete? Not unless he shows interest. Will I defame his teacher if he fails to win an academic award? I don’t think so. I will let my boy learn the joy of success and the blue haze of coming up short.
Parents like Ms. Chiauzzi need to get a grip. I hope her son is paying attention. This is what not to do, son. Work hard, try your best, and if you succeed, great. Even if you don’t, the work gets harder after your reach each plateau. Making a team doesn’t stop the growth process, it accelerates it.
Go out there and have fun. Be a kid for crying out loud. And parents- let them be kids. They will have only a short time to be a kid in this fast paced world, and you’ll wonder where the time went.
Especially if you miss the next season due to a restraining order.
Chip Grefski
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