| i think in general it's harder for dads to 'give up' on the dreams of becoming the next Tiger Wood's dad or Nadal's uncle. granted sports builds great connections between DH and DS with all the time spent together, but un-realistic expectations can never be healthy or a good thing. is there a certain age of the child when most dads finally realize the boy is not really 'physically gifted'? or do the kids help the dads in some way to see the real pictures? |
| Hopefully, this is never an issue from the start. |
| My husband is clutzy at team sports, so it didn't bother him at all that our boys are not athletic. As long as they will keep him company while he watches the game, he is a happy dad. |
| My oldest son is 7 and he's a clutz (I love him to pieces but he'll never be an athlete). He also has issues with depth perception from an eye problem so he can't throw or catch well. My younger son has aspergers and no interest in sports ATM. My DH keeps saying things like "maybe he'll be a runner" about our oldest... But he's seeing reality most of the time. |
| About 3 years old, one of my daughters was standing still and still somehow managed to fall and skin her knee. Dh looked at me and said "there goes my tennis championship retirement plan. Better go check on the 401k". |
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My cousin is in MLB. Two world series rings. He was also in the college world series and LL world series. It was his life. He dad and uncle were also in baseball. Trust me, it is so rare. This kid had it in his blood and even then, we were shocked every step of the way at his success.
I laugh at all the delusional fathers around here. |
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When DS was walking before 9 months and the pediatrician comment that he would probably be athletic I know my husband was thrilled. Fast forward 3 years and DS is some biking crazy person. Like it wouldn't be difficult for him to do 10 miles at a time. DS would have loved a MLB player but I think he now has his hopes set on the Tour de France...
DH got an extra masters in sports management from GW for fun and now I think he is hoping he can use it to be one of our kids agents. Deep down I think he knows it's not going to happen |
who? just curious. |
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Well, in our case DH does not want that for our sons.
DH was an athlete through college and both my DS's are pretty athletic. But DH wants them to play for the fitness and teamwork concept. He has never indicated that he has any aspirations for them past high school. But DH's father was a pro football player for 3 seasons in the 1960's and he can barely walk now and is in constant pain. DH also has chronic knee and back problems that are results from his athletic endeavors. He does not want that for our kids. |
Hmmm...Two World Series rings in the College World Series and the LL World Series. Is your cousin a catcher on the Red Sox?
Who, BTW, is still pretty good looking despite his age! Speaking of the LL World Series, my nephew made it to the tourney this year. It was so time-consuming and expensive. I hope DS doesn't choose to go down a similar lane. |
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I think dd was in elementary school when I finally accepted that competitive team sports were not for her - a disappointment as I grew up in the pre-Title IX era. It was so great to be able to offer her all these opportunities I never had as a girl!
But who cares? The kid is not a jock but she is a totally cool kid and very engaged in other interests. |
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I think it is important to have your kids in sports and other activities-dance, choir, girl scouts etc . Try your best, work hard, be a good sport in all those activities and if it happens it does but if it doesn't you learned some life lessons.
The one thing I say to the players and parents of the team I coach is that we have standards-they are Good sportsmanship Have fun Try your best Work as a team pay attention The chance for a kid at the highschool and lower level to make the professional level at any sport is less than 1% My DH played college football and said this There are about 1500 professional football players-each year there are about 2500 players who reach the end of their eligability (Division I). The average turnover each year in the NFL is 10% 150 players. 2350 people will be selling insurance and everyone of them thought they could have made it at some point. |
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Around the same time that he came to terms with the fact that DS had no chance of becoming a professional musician.
He cried buckets, but moved on eventually. OMG, are you for real OP? |
busted. i'm a troll. happy now? have you never seen dads yell at their own boys out of frustration in sports? many parents/DCUMs think their DCs are academically gifted, and by 3rd grade truth hits home for most of them. don't kid yourself to think some of those dads weren't thinking about future college scholarships when they yell. if you don't have anything meaningful to say, stay away from this thread. |
Honestly? No. I have never seen dads YELL at their sons out of frustration in sports. Never. Our kids are academically gifted (they are both in magnets, one is working three grades ahead in math) but we do not yell at them about school and have not thought about future college scholarships. We likely make too much money for them to get any kind of scholarships. I focus on them doing well, that's it. Really, your DH needs to step back and get with the real-life program. |