That does
not sound right to me
I had another
conversation, with another parent, claiming to have a full ride for their child
athletically. When questioned thoroughly, and my connections to college coaches
explained to him, the parent changes the story. Well, it wasn’t DI and it
wasn’t a full athletic scholarship. My child has great grades.
Are parents
so caught up in the ego and status of having a kid with a scholarship that they
just throw away the truth and hope no one catches them? Are they in a group
where everyone believes them and wants to be able to say they know the kid who
got the athletic scholarship? Do they yearn for status they never had as a non
athlete growing up? Do they spend so much time and money that they feel entitled
to some recognition and status they see other parents getting?
Too bad it
is not like the whisper in the ear around the room conversation. By the time
the last person gets the first person’s saying the whole statement has changed.
Parents, I do not care how much time and money you have spent. Your child’s
athletic career has nothing to do with you.
The stories
I hear all basically come down to one simple truth. The rules apply to everyone
but me. As long as I get mine, and I can brag about it, even if it means twisting
the truth, so be it. I hear everyone else brag about what they got for their
kid, even though I have no idea if they are telling the truth, so I am going to
brag and exaggerate about my child.
“I will come
off as an expert on the subject and make you believe that my child could have,
would have, but decided not to, chase the dream we had as a parents for
ourselves. Since they first started playing youth sports, I have been surrounded
by people claiming to have full rides” and that the goal is attainable for my
child. I want to believe them so I will
not verify their tall tales, even though the numbers do not add up.”
Don’t let
the truth get in the way. That narrative does not help me justify what if, or
at the very least, defend my actions. Up until 30 years ago very few if any
parents felt the need to have this conversation, or did they.
We keep
saying how smart kids are these days. Do not be surprised when your child rebel
because he or she knows what you are doing is not in their best interest.
Trust, the base of any relationship, is
compromised. At what cost? Is it really worth it?
