Pittsburgh Steeler Returns His Kids "Participation" Trophies

[Anonymous]

Kudos to this dad:

http://wgntv.com/2015/08/16/steelers-james-harrison-wants-to-return-sons-trophies/

What would happen if all of us would man up (or mom up) and tell our kids' leagues thanks but no thanks to the "everyone gets a trophy" mentality?

[Anonymous]

How old are his boys? It just says elementary.

If they are third-sixth graders, good lesson.

If they are kindergartners, that kinda sucks.

[Anonymous]

I had my DD say "no thank you" when she was little and given awards for showing up. She understands why. When she won MVP for her varsity volleyball team she was actually proud of it, because she busted her ass all season and was the only one to get the award.

[Anonymous]

Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:


I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

You are wrong. It is a dad who is preparing his sons to face life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

By definition of "parents," we all make our kids do stuff "to fit our own personal agenda." It's just that some of us have more admirable agenda than others.

Duh.

[Anonymous]

He needs to go sit with all the self-congratulatory mommy bloggers.

[Anonymous]

When I read stuff like this I just sit back and relax thinking my kids are in a bubble inside their little Montessori school learn to develop their interests for the pleasure of working and not looking for recognition coming from outside.

*phew*

[Anonymous]

I have been doing this since my oldest, now 14yr old got her first participation trophy. We tell every coach/instructor we will not accept a trophy or ribbon based on participation before the season even starts. I don't go on a tangent or push my own beliefs on them. I just let them know we won't need one.

For us, it sends the wrong message. Who wants a room full of trophies at the age of 14 for doing nothing but participating on a team? Talk about a waste of the environment. Not one kid is going to keep all those trophies given out 2-3x a year per sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is his Instagram post about this. Now this is a DAD:

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

What this is, is a DAD who makes his kids do stuff to fit his own personal agenda.

By definition of "parents," we all make our kids do stuff "to fit our own personal agenda." It's just that some of us have more admirable agenda than others.

Duh.

+1 strange that pp didn't see that. Every angle parenting choice is actually a aren't imposing their thoughts and beliefs on their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I read stuff like this I just sit back and relax thinking my kids are in a bubble inside their little Montessori school learn to develop their interests for the pleasure of working and not looking for recognition coming from outside.

*phew*

Best humblebrag I've seen in a very long time!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my DD say "no thank you" when she was little and given awards for showing up. She understands why. When she won MVP for her varsity volleyball team she was actually proud of it, because she busted her ass all season and was the only one to get the award.

This I can support. Using your status as a player on a professional football team to make a show of returning the trophy, not so much. What a sphincter he is.

[Anonymous]

Of all the battles a parent could choose to fight. And he chose this one. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Good for him. As a professional athlete, I am sure he knows what it takes to work hard to earn something in his sport.
He wants his kids to learn that working hard is what should be rewarded - not just “showing up.”
He has no desire to raise “entitled” kids.