Parenting in sports

Parents that seemingly live or want to live vicariously through their children, have to understand that the child is entitled to be themselves too!  Not every child will inherit the parent’s athletic ability (thought process that my child is/going to be a star),  nor do some of them even want to be like their parents when it comes to the arena of sports.

Two scenario’s last weekend that made me seriously think about my behavior as my youngest progresses:

1.       During a game, the scorekeeper for one team (obviously a father of one of the young ladies playing) is visibly upset at call after call.  My partner give the coach of his team a technical for whatever reasons.  Play continues and during a stoppage of play, the scorekeeper yells something at my partner.  So I walk over to give him the speech (if you’re going to keep score, you have to be impartial and not make comments one way or the other), BUT before I got to the table he SLAMS both fist down on the table, pushes the table towards the court…wth right??   I was speechless to the point that it was almost funny, and understand from the time clock keeper that I actually chuckled and smiled.  I immediately ejected him from the gym “get out of here sir, please leave the building”.  He screams back “I’m not going anywhere…make me!”….LOL  I’m seriously laughing internally now because I had NO IDEA where this was coming from.   I called the site supervisor over and had him escort the man out of the building.  As he walks away he’s yelling “Idiot, etc.”

 I’m thinking to myself that he just doesn’t get it…He is the one that people are probably thinking is the Idiot!   After the game, one of the young ladies comes up to me crying and apologizes, stating that it was her father that got ejected.  I informed her, “you do Not owe me any sort of an apology young lady, and I’m sorry that you felt the need to do so”  

I’m not sure how I would feel if Kelsey were in that young lady’s shoes!!

2.     Last game of the night, a portly guy is constantly yelling and making a nuisance of himself, inciting the players, and others around him.  I finally had enough of the nonsense and asked him to leave the gym. He tells me he’s not going “nowhere”…lol  I replied, “either you leave, or this game is OVER!”  He marches off mumbling who knows what.

Games over, I change and begin my walk to my vehicle…and who’s waiting for me at the door?  YEP, it’s him…lol.   He walks up to me and puts his finger in my face (no I did not clock him…lol):

Guy:   You need to get thicker skin

Me:   YOU need to lose some weight and GET YOUR FINGER OUTTA MY FACE”

Guy:  Idiot!!

Me:  Idiot?? Lose some weight and get out there and try doing what we do Fat Boy!

Guy: I’ll lose some kicking your ass!

Me: (laughing)..Really??  go ahead and touch me

Guy:  What are you going to do if I touch you, sue me?

Me:  Nope, I’ll wipe up these floors with your fat ass!

Guy’s wife tells him to “stop”, just stop already!

Am I proud of what I said to him…not at all!  Two wrongs don’t make a right, and if I see him again…I’ll make sure to the bigger person and just keep walking!

 

Parents please remember….not only are our children a reflection upon us, but WE are also a reflection upon them.