Who is more crazy? Sport parents or academic parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither. DCUM parents win it hands down.

+1,000 and you know what's sad the people most uptight on this thread are white sports freaks or Asian academic freaks

And the remedy much like politics how many people from either "side" have actually talked to the other side

So glad I am moving out of this insanity before we have kids

+1 to the poster writing that not all jocks are dumb

If you want to get a sense of "white sports freaks" take a look at some of the lacrosse thread on the private school forum. Some of these dads are just crazy. One had to be moved because people kept complaining it had nothing to do with discussions of private schools. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/315/590958.page http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/532143.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither. DCUM parents win it hands down.

+1,000 and you know what's sad the people most uptight on this thread are white sports freaks or Asian academic freaks

And the remedy much like politics how many people from either "side" have actually talked to the other side

So glad I am moving out of this insanity before we have kids

+1 to the poster writing that not all jocks are dumb

Racist.

My white kids are #1 in their respective grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel soccer parents refer to ourselves as "committed", but we know that's just a code for crazy. Now for perspective, this is the absolute top level of competitive soccer in an area that is among the best in the country. So my thought is that if one has a child who has been blessed with athletic ability and also loves the training, the friendships, and all the hard work, why wouldn't I facilitate that? We aren't the parents yelling at refs (and the other parents), but we are the parents trucking our kid all over the Mid-Atlantic for matches, training, and tryouts.

Most of the kids I know are quite good at academics, too. The attributes of hard work and time management translate to school as well as sport.

Because what's the end game? That they'll maybe play in college? 10% chance of happening. Playing D1 or using athletics to grub into an Ivy? Less than 5%.

I'm convinced parents do it just to fill THEIR day. It's not about keeping kids busy it's just an easy hole to go down when you don't have a life.

Wow, you sound awfully jealous of kids that can "fill their day" with sports and do well in school. I think the reason kids who play sports can handle school so well is because they have better time management, reduced stress from fresh air and exercise, and they have a family of teammates to depend on and enjoy. Socialization and exercise in high school is extremely important. When I think of the academic kids I think of introvert, in the house studying all day long, stressing for perfection. It doesn't seem healthy to me.

THIS! My kids aren't in sports to be a D1 athlete but they will have memories and friendships to last a lifetime. It is a wonderful balance and mix of things during your teen years. It tells you to never focus on only one thing in life. I don't know many academic-only kids that look back on high school fondly. They were way too overstressed and anti-social.

[Anonymous]

They are the same person. They are living vicariously through their children. The academic version pushes the kid to excel academically, ensuring they spend every waking minute to pursue the goal of: proving mommy or daddy is smart.

The athletic parent is trying to prove that they were a good athlete once.

[Anonymous]

The 10% number is misleading too, I know quite a few people who have played D1 sports because there are a BUTTLOAD of D1 schools. I don't know anyone who has swam at Stanford or who has played football at Alabama, those are far less than 10%, those are the top-top-top kids around the country. But I do know lots of student athletes that continue to play in college because they love it, they have to, their schedules are grueling even without any glory at all of what you think when you think "D1 sports"- and most come from my hometown which is far less affluent, people pay for far fewer travel leagues the way they do here, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are the same person. They are living vicariously through their children. The academic version pushes the kid to excel academically, ensuring they spend every waking minute to pursue the goal of: proving mommy or daddy is smart.

The athletic parent is trying to prove that they were a good athlete once.

+1. Both are fed by the same underlying emotion: fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The return is much higher with academic preparation.

However parents spend insane amounts of money and time to encourage a particular sport. Once college comes around they're so locked into the suck cost that they're willing to send their kid to a lower ranked school that promises a spot on the team (no scholarship!)

There was a thread recently about "signing day" and how proud the parents were of their kids for making it on any team. It sounds like a scam quite honestly. You spend tons of money on a sport in hopes of a scholarship, but when college comes around you end up having to restrict your choices to lower ranked schools just so your kid can make it on a team. And you're still paying the full tuition!

Sigh. People love sports though.

What does a parent do when it is not they that loves the sport but their child who is passionate about playing on any level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academic parents can be intense and competitive, but I've seen no crazy ones. Sports parents, on the other hand, with the shouting and the insults...

Where would you see Academic parents in their setting? Standing behind their child at the SAT's screaming in their face to finish? You don't see them because they are at home abusing their children to take the top classes, to get only A's, to guilt them when they get any grade lower, to deny them socialization, etc...

we are academic parents. We encourage and help when needed. Sorry your kid is an academic failure and you need to take it out on us.

Ha! Spot on, PP!

We have a great student "taking the top classes and getting only A's' who's into theater and music. We do go to her performances and applaud accordingly, but schoolwork takes priority. She's never been into any kind of team sports, thank God!

Be careful there congratulating yourself PP. Grew up with a sister who was the sporty one. I was into music and academics. She learned to love movement and exercise which has lasted all her life. I do not and have a weight problem as an adult. It is all about balance when raising kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are the same person. They are living vicariously through their children. The academic version pushes the kid to excel academically, ensuring they spend every waking minute to pursue the goal of: proving mommy or daddy is smart.

The athletic parent is trying to prove that they were a good athlete once.

+1. Both are fed by the same underlying emotion: fear.

It sounds like there are a lot of posters on here that had bad HS e oeriences rhemselves.

There are plenty of well-adjusted, kind and smart student athletes around here. Just as many normal parents as there are freaks. I know which parents to give a wide berth on the sidelines and at school. Keeps me sane. My kids know it's what's inside is that's important. Both school and sports together do a good job of teaching many life lessons.

My kids have friends on both ends of the spectrum--some don't play sports, etc. They are well-rounded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The return is much higher with academic preparation.

However parents spend insane amounts of money and time to encourage a particular sport. Once college comes around they're so locked into the suck cost that they're willing to send their kid to a lower ranked school that promises a spot on the team (no scholarship!)

There was a thread recently about "signing day" and how proud the parents were of their kids for making it on any team. It sounds like a scam quite honestly. You spend tons of money on a sport in hopes of a scholarship, but when college comes around you end up having to restrict your choices to lower ranked schools just so your kid can make it on a team. And you're still paying the full tuition!

Sigh. People love sports though.

What does a parent do when it is not they that loves the sport but their child who is passionate about playing on any level?

It's their dream/life not yours. You support their passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel soccer parents refer to ourselves as "committed", but we know that's just a code for crazy. Now for perspective, this is the absolute top level of competitive soccer in an area that is among the best in the country. So my thought is that if one has a child who has been blessed with athletic ability and also loves the training, the friendships, and all the hard work, why wouldn't I facilitate that? We aren't the parents yelling at refs (and the other parents), but we are the parents trucking our kid all over the Mid-Atlantic for matches, training, and tryouts.

Most of the kids I know are quite good at academics, too. The attributes of hard work and time management translate to school as well as sport.

Because what's the end game? That they'll maybe play in college? 10% chance of happening. Playing D1 or using athletics to grub into an Ivy? Less than 5%.

I'm convinced parents do it just to fill THEIR day. It's not about keeping kids busy it's just an easy hole to go down when you don't have a life.

How about the fact that about 95% of CEOs participated in sports High school. Success in life is not just about academics.

https://www.youthletic.com/articles/from-captain-to-ceo-its-proven-that-youth-sports-make-kids-successful/

I want a kid who is balanced. Feel bad for those who's parents don't see the value, they are missing out on much.

We're not talking about "normal" high school athletics, we're talking about weekend, travel, league, year-round "crazies". At the end of the day the fun ends and these kids have to go to college and need to academic chops to earn a tough degree. In my experience, majority of athletic crazy parents do not require their kids to be anywhere near the top of the class.

Shut the fuck up. You know nothing.

I was #9 out of 457 Ffx Co HS--over 4.0 GPA. I won 4 State Championships and a National Championship with my travel soccer team. I started Freshmen year of HS on Varsity and we won the VA State Championship.

BS in Biochem. PhD Immunology. Johns Hopkins.

My group of teammates was very similar. Many Ivies, Duke, etc. among us.

I credit team sports as a girl/teen to my success and drive in life.

Relivn' the glory days PP
Oh, and have some pride in the language you use

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We travel soccer parents refer to ourselves as "committed", but we know that's just a code for crazy. Now for perspective, this is the absolute top level of competitive soccer in an area that is among the best in the country. So my thought is that if one has a child who has been blessed with athletic ability and also loves the training, the friendships, and all the hard work, why wouldn't I facilitate that? We aren't the parents yelling at refs (and the other parents), but we are the parents trucking our kid all over the Mid-Atlantic for matches, training, and tryouts.

Most of the kids I know are quite good at academics, too. The attributes of hard work and time management translate to school as well as sport.

Because what's the end game? That they'll maybe play in college? 10% chance of happening. Playing D1 or using athletics to grub into an Ivy? Less than 5%.

I'm convinced parents do it just to fill THEIR day. It's not about keeping kids busy it's just an easy hole to go down when you don't have a life.

How about the fact that about 95% of CEOs participated in sports High school. Success in life is not just about academics.

https://www.youthletic.com/articles/from-captain-to-ceo-its-proven-that-youth-sports-make-kids-successful/

I want a kid who is balanced. Feel bad for those who's parents don't see the value, they are missing out on much.

We're not talking about "normal" high school athletics, we're talking about weekend, travel, league, year-round "crazies". At the end of the day the fun ends and these kids have to go to college and need to academic chops to earn a tough degree. In my experience, majority of athletic crazy parents do not require their kids to be anywhere near the top of the class.

Shut the fuck up. You know nothing.

I was #9 out of 457 Ffx Co HS--over 4.0 GPA. I won 4 State Championships and a National Championship with my travel soccer team. I started Freshmen year of HS on Varsity and we won the VA State Championship.

BS in Biochem. PhD Immunology. Johns Hopkins.

My group of teammates was very similar. Many Ivies, Duke, etc. among us.

I credit team sports as a girl/teen to my success and drive in life.

Wow. You are *SPECIAL*.

Signed....2.3 GPA HS, bottom half of my class
1.5 years at small college -- 4.0 GPA,
BS, Va Tech.
Ph.D. MIT. -- computationation physics.

[Anonymous]

LOL. As long as everyone here is posting as an anonymous coward, there's no proof whatsoever anyone went to any school with any GPA.

Not that it would matter either way.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, every lax player at STA has a 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT score... right. There are only so many hours in a day. All that time sunk into a sport is time away from the books. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, every lax player at STA has a 4.0 GPA and perfect SAT score... right. There are only so many hours in a day. All that time sunk into a sport is time away from the books. End of story.

even if they fall short of the 4.0--they'll still take the Ivy spot from your snowflake.