Tired of people telling my son he has a “terrible” birthday
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Anonymous
| My kid is a swimmer and has an early February birthday. I am thoroughly aware of how awful that is for short course champs, NCSA, but…. there is nothing anyone can do about it. He can’t change when he was born. Coaches, other swimmers, other parents have been all over him recently (I guess because his birthday is coming up?) about how much it stinks that he has a birthday right before champs and what a disadvantage it is. He is starting to dread his birthday and not even be excited about it, which I find sad. He is very talented and if born a few weeks later would place top in the state. I think our specific team values short course state championship above all else for age groupers, so even though he does really well in December champs, it doesn’t seem to matter. No question really, just feeling irritated. This is not the Olympics, why make a kid feel bad about when he was born?! |
Anonymous
| Why does it matter? |
Anonymous
Eh - mine has a worse one (very early March). No one really talks about it on and on. It is hardly mentioned. Who are all these people who are going on and on about it? I know you said parents and coaches and swimmers - but it wouldn’t be like the same people talk about it every practice. Maybe a few people talk about it some of the time. Nbd. |
Anonymous
| Maybe sports just aren’t for him then if it bothers him. He should grow thicker skin |
Anonymous
| It isn’t just swimming. I have a son born late December. He has a terrible soccer and hockey birthday. Be glad your son can compete against same aged kids in December. Other sports like soccer and hockey use the same cut offs year round. It is based on how old you are on Dec. 31st did the entire year. My son is 11 but has had to compete against 12 year olds all year. With many if those kids now going through puberty (he turns 12 in a few days while his soccer peers will soon be turning 13). |
Anonymous
You sound like an a-hole. |
Anonymous
I mean - glad no one talks about it to your kid? I clearly stated who is saying these things. It’s been more lately because his birthday is coming up and also “championship season” is on the horizon. It also limits his participation with his peers and group placement, etc. so it does actually stink for him and I understand why it sucks for people to comment a lot. He can’t do one thing about it. To the one who said he needs to grow a thicker skin - okay? I mean, I think I would find it annoying too if people kept nagging me about when I was born. For the poster with the soccer player, I’m sorry your son deals with that. It is very frustrating for a kid who is talented and committed to their sport. |
Anonymous
| I do not understand this. Why can’t sports just be fun. The possibility that sports will mean anything beyond helping you stay healthy while having fun is next to zip. Literally 99 percent of kids don’t get sports college scholarships or become pro athletes. |
Anonymous
| What sort of psycho tells a kid his birthday sucks?? |
Anonymous
|
I thought I was going to open this and read about a kid being born on Christmas.
How old is your kid? |
Anonymous
| My son gets told the same thing for his May 31 birthday and summer swim. It sucks but there are meets where he is the top of the age group and he does well in those. OP - if your child is a serious swimmer a some point his birthday won’t matter. It sucks now, acknowledge it and move on while highlighting the meets where he has the advantage. |
Anonymous
+1. |
Anonymous
Exactly. Swimming is vicious. |
Anonymous
| Switch to soccer. Great bday for that. |
Anonymous
| At least it's a good birthday for school. My kid was born in September and we could either make him the youngest in the class or one of the oldest. Can't say that swimming cutoff dates ever entered my mind. |