When I was a kid, you either made a sports team or you didn't. If you didn't, you tried hard and went out again the next year. Nowadays parents interfere and say their child wasn't given a fair chance or they are small for their age. Who cares? I have even seen parents stoop so low as to call out and make mean comments to girls on the opposing team at my daughters softball games.It is not limited to kids and sports either. My daughter has been taking horseback riding lessons since she was about eight years old and now wants to compete with here horse Jackson, which we have been leasing from her teacher. I am supportive of her goals so we signed her up for 4-H.
The kids in that program are mostly competitive, but in a healthy way. If they win and get good times, great they have a chance to go to states and such. But if they don't they just are happy to be up on the horse they love.
Parents, as I have seen are another story. There is gossiping going on by parents about the CHILDREN. Not just other parents. That is where I draw the line. I don't like to talk about anyone behind their backs but when they include the kids in this mess it really makes me mad.
Like one girl for example. Her parents bought her a barrel horse after she had grown out of her little pony. People were saying that she shouldn't be allowed to compete because her horse was so good. I'm sorry, but that horse is not running the pattern by itself. You can take a great horse and put it in a competition, but unless it has a good rider, it isn't going to perform to the best of its ability. They made such an issue of the horse that the girl felt so bad she dropped out of the competition.
These parents need to let kids be kids and teach them healthy, constructive rules about competition. If another kid is better than theirs at something let it go. Each person has a thing that they will excel at. Don't make your goals and dreams your kids goals and dreams because they are their own people and need to decide what hobbies and activities they like best.
