Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

+1

It is foolish and unrealistic to convince your kids that they deserve to be congratulated for participating. You don't get a bonus or promotion at work for showing up, you get it for showing up and doing a great job.

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People take this way too seriously. I just don't think it has much of an effect on kids, one way or the other.

+100
This type of thing is no big deal. Kids like keepsakes from their participation. Kids like playing on the playground after their games. Kids understand when certain trophies have more value than the others.

Got it, mommy.

Why are you using "mommy" as an insult?

It's not an insult. It's just very obvious that the female/ mommy position is this poster's point of view. Which is why it is beneficial and indeed necessary, IMO, for kids to have a dad and a father in their life, who sees things from a more masculine, competitive perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

+1

---------------

I have a child with Anxiety. Her participation on the swim team represents a shitload of bravery from her. As far as I'm concerned, she earns that participation trophy.

Yes, but what did she contribute to the team?

Anonymous wrote:So my area must have been ahead of its time because I'm almost 30 and had participation trophies growing up. I think what some parents miss in this debate is that past 4th grade or so, these trophies are not a sense of pride for kids. They know what they mean (congrats, you lost). Most don't want a big show made out of it because getting a participation trophy doesn't really feel good. I would have preferred nothing vs the trophies and purple ribbons I'd get.

Now a little kid is just excited to get a trophy, and really, no long term impact is going to be made if your 7 year old gets excited about a trophy.

Personally, I thInk the participation stuff is pointless because it's essentially a last place trophy. But do I think that it's going to give kids an entitlement complex? Not unless he's getting influenced elsewhere as well N

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well he beat his girlfriend, started fights with his HS coach and shot a BB gun at a coach that he did not like. So it's not like this guy is somebody anybody respects off the field.

I wonder if he would be willing to give back his HS diploma since he did not really earn it... i would love to audit his college work to see if they just "gave him a participation" degree.

James Harrison, model of fatherhood and manhood:

PITTSBURGH -- Domestic violence charges were dropped Thursday against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who was arrested in early March after hitting his girlfriend.

Allegheny County prosecutors announced the decision as a judge was preparing to open a preliminary hearing for Harrison on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.

"He has entered domestic abuse counseling. The victim did not request any further restitution and the victim did not wish to pursue further prosecution," said Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Harrison told police he and Beth Tibbott were arguing on March 8, and then he broke through her bedroom door, slapped her in the face and snapped her cell phone in half. The Steelers have said the couple were arguing about whether to baptize Harrison's son.

Harrison's attorney, Robert DelGreco Jr., said Harrison has completed anger management and psychological counseling, which likely would have been required had the case gone to trial.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3327255

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

Anonymous wrote:

Well he beat his girlfriend, started fights with his HS coach and shot a BB gun at a coach that he did not like. So it's not like this guy is somebody anybody respects off the field.

I wonder if he would be willing to give back his HS diploma since he did not really earn it... i would love to audit his college work to see if they just "gave him a participation" degree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

It also sounds incredibly ungrateful. I've only ever seen participation trophies in rec leagues for small kids. I know my kid's low key soccer league stopped them at U8 (mostly 2nd grade). Rec leagues that are almost completely staffed by volunteers. I'm guessing, this guy didn't volunteer his own time, because then he would have just not given the trophies out.

Why not just tell your kids "I'm not going to display these trophies. In our house, we only display trophies that are earned"? Or sign up to coach their team, and change the policy from the inside. Or research the programs you sign your kids up for in the first place, and choose one that reflects your values. But taking advantage of volunteer run programming, and then insulting the organization on the internet is rude. So is giving back gifts you don't want, whether they're trophies you think wasn't earned, or a sweater from Grandma you think is ugly.

I don't see anything "manly" about raising kids to be selfish and ungrateful.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, sounds like attention-seeking behavior to me. Don't want your kids to have the participation trophies? Fine, I have no problem with that, take them away or donate them to goodwill. Don't give them back and then generate drama about it on the internet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think he is likely an asshole and doing his kids no favors- I can just imagine them telling the other kids they don't deserve a trophy or it is meaningless. How else would a kid cope?

These participation trophies are merely a memento of your season acknowledging that everyone has contributed. They are kids. It is fine. In this area it is so competitive that most of these kids won't even get to play a team sport in high school.

And you sound just like a mom. Which is fine, because I bet you are. But he is a man, a father, and his comment is that "this is how he's teaching his sons to be men." He is a professional football player in his mid-30s who is still competing and knows what it takes to play at that elite level. And by the way, he himself is the youngest of 14 kids so imagine what that did to his sense of drive and perspective.

I very much like his comment, "sometimes your best isn't good enough." That's exactly right and nothing wrong with kids learning that at an early age. It doesn't mean you're a failure in life or a worthless person. It means that someone will always be chasing you, willing to work harder than you are and may be just more naturally gifted. Get over it.