Kids and sports, when is it too much?

United States
June 28, 2008 12:40am CST
When is it too much and too serious with kids and sports? I have a brother-in-law who is really cramming sports on to his kids, (my nephews). Usually I keep quiet about it, but this has really got me flabbergasted. Earlier today my nephews, one age 12 and the other 13 called my husband and asked him to come pick them up. They were in an orchard playing paintball and hit a house with paint and did not know what to do. So, hubby goes and picks them up, deals with the paint and brings them home to our house. They have a couple of friends we've never met with them and they all want to swim in our pool. It is 95 degrees and hot out. We call the friends parents and get ok's. So, we let them all swim. We assumed it was ok for my nephews to swim as they have been over with mom and swimming all this week. All the kids get in the pool having good time, playing Marco Polo. Ok, now Dad calls - asks what kids are doing. We say they are having great fun, cooling off in pool. Dad freaks out! Makes us get kids out of pool ASAP! Because kids have soccer games they HAVE TO WIN tomorrow so they can't use up energy this afternoon/evening swimming. They weren't supposed to do anything but relax. Now, it just broke my heart to make those kids get out of the pool, and theirs too. It is summer and they are kids. Is this taking it too far? I definately think so! What do you think?
2 responses
johhnyB
@humra7 (178)
• United States
3 Jul 08
This is really taking it to far. Sometimes when parents push their kids to do something it is because when they were young they weren't very good at sports, maybe even very bad so they try to "live again" thru their kids lives and that is why they are pushing them so hard. Sometimes that can be good, it worked on me, but that is 99% wrong. Like this way kids can't even have fun in sports, and they "can't be kids". This is sometimes huge problem because kids start to think that they very bad at these things and start do doubt in themselves.
cubshater2008
@cubshater2008 (307)
• Ecuador
3 Jul 08
Taking it way too far. I remember, when I was a kid (Im only 23, so it wasn't that long ago), I was involved of tons of sports. However, I stayed in my communities recreational leagues, so the games didn't matter a so much, but I was still getting better and having fun. I think what your brother-in-law needs to do is put his kids in a recreational league, where they can still play and compete, but the games don't matter as much. if in fact they are in a recreational league, then your brother-in-law is totally out of line, especially in this case where the game is the next day. Even for my high school games not too long ago, I would still kick around with some friends the day before the game, even though these games mean alot.