Friday, February 22, 2008

My Precious

Don't you hate it when parents self-promote by bragging on their kids? If you answered "yes" I advise you to move on and skip this post!

My very small, very white, sports-loving, 14-year-old made his basketball league's All-Star Team.

I have spent years discouraging his dreams in this arena, like any sensible mother would. Afterall, his genetics, skills and level of discipline do not pre-dispose him toward a future in sports...especially basketball or football, where size is paramount. Baseball....maybe. Historically there have been more David Eckstein's than Spud Webb's or...........O-K......I can't think of any really small football players off the top of my head, but you get the point, right?

But, as parents, isn't the #1 disappointment that our children often don't follow our ideal course for them?

"You're no muscle-head!" I object when he fantasizes about his athletic prowess! "You have gifts........You're SMART!...............Practically brilliant, ya know! Yer.............yer............yer IQ is in the VERY SUPERIOR range!.............At 14 you scored higher than...........82% of college-bound juniors on the PSAT!...........Don't squander your abilities on a sports pipe-dream!!!!"

To which he responds by making the All-Star Team and getting a GPA just high enough to remain on the basketball team. Precious. Just precious.

5 comments:

jennifer h said...

I chuckled reading this. The last paragraph speaks volumes.

Jessie said...

That is great - very cute - especially the GPA part.

Angie B. said...

Congrats to your All-Star player!

JD Linton said...

Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Gee, our children have minds and desires of their own. I think this is wonderful for your "14 year old". No small wonder when the parents of this offspring have such a love for a certain red bird team. Joanie