letting them grow

Coach, Terrific post. Thanks for sharing the article.

Excellent article. 2013 not making JV his freshman year was the best thing that could have happened to him, which we all suspected at the time but really understood at the conclusion of the season.

Coach had told him he probably could have played JV but wanted him to have all the playing time possible, as many ABs as possible, and frosh was best for him. Turns out he was right. 2013 busted his hump all season - and the following off season - and was a varsity starter as a sophomore and voted Rookie of the Year.

What's the saying? You don't learn anything from success - the lessons are in the failures.

I'm thankful for these types of kids. It gives kids like mine an edge over these lamers with a better shot to compete in the real world when it comes to getting jobs. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think kids would need mommy and daddy hold their hand in a job interview, but I'm glad they do. These will be the people my kids will lead over. So as long as it's not my kids, anyone of them can take mommy and daddy to work or school to fight their battles. Just makes it easier for mine to stand out in the long run and at the end of the day, that's all that counts.

It is definately a balancing act these days.

I remember as a kid hopping on my bike, telling my folks I am going to so and so's house and being gone until almost nightfall. In a small town no one ever thought about the dangers that seem almost overwhelming these days. Halloween? Let the 8 year old go. Biggest fear was possibly getting hit by a car running from house to house. We'd go down to the Mississippi river, jump in and swim, fish, do all sorts of things that today would give me and my wife nightmares-if my son did it.

Whether the time was simpler or our parents were just not as well informed is something for debate. I know there were perverts and sadists around in the 70s and 80s but we never thought about them. Today it is all we hear about. While it is important to let people know about the dangers to our kids I think it also had the unintended effect of terrifying parents into overprotecting their kids. The fact that the information that is given out now is so increasinly graphic just makes the fear even worse.

It is too bad. The times have changed. I know I could never let my kid do the things that I did as a kid after reading and hearing about some of the stuff that has gone on. Maybe the danger really isn't any worse, but the perception is much more higher.

I think the whole "family planning" effort has had a huge effect on all this. Now that we can choose to have just one or maybe two kids to make life "more simple and manageable" there tends to be a lot more hovering, controlling and engineering of children’s lives. Even though we have five kids we still feel the pressure to parent the same way as those who have only one child. At some point we "breeders" get overwhelmed and just have to say "let the kids figure it out on their own". Maybe it's not all that bad.

Thanks for sharing hsballcoach.

Not to change the subject, but I happened to notice a youtube link on that page. G*y Teen, comes out on You Tube.

I understand this is a sensitive subject these days, but I just don't get it. Must admit, I didn't watch it, but why would anyone use youtube to publicly announce something like that?

I don't believe times are as dangerous as people believe them to be. What has changed is the implementation of cable news and the internet.

It used to be if someone was murdered one thousand miles away it never hit the news since three or four days later it wasn't newsworthy anymore. Today information travels in nanoseconds. Now we see the police on the scene of the crime one thousand miles away while the police helicopter chases the suspect down the street.

Knowing everything that goes on in the country versus what's local can be overwhelming for some people.

PG,

Time changes lots of things in my opinion.

I think that 30 or so years ago - this type of thing could really be viewed as brave,fearless,groundbreaking etc... All admirable in my mind. Glad it happened.

But in 2012 - I think it is nothing more than a somewhat sad cry for recognition or support. Or something.
Sort of like pronouncing to the world that smoking cigarettes is bad for your lungs - or that you need to breathe in order to keep your heart going.

I do feel bad for alot of these type of people now.
I guess I am getting older and gentler.
Unfortunately I think the reality is - their displays of self absorption are at best, pathetic.

What they all need to understand is that it isnt what color you are - what religion you - whether you are male or female or what your sexual orientation is.

Its about what you do - not what you say.
Every day.

Just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I don't believe times are as dangerous as people believe them to be. What has changed is the implementation of cable news and the internet.

It used to be if someone was murdered one thousand miles away it never hit the news since three or four days later it wasn't newsworthy anymore. Today information travels in nanoseconds. Now we see the police on the scene of the crime one thousand miles away while the police helicopter chases the suspect down the street.

Knowing everything that goes on in the country versus what's local can be overwhelming for some people.

Great post. We don’t live in more “Dangerous” times, we simply know more about the bad things going on in the small town across the country.

The media and “News” market has for the most part become a competition for viewers. So of course the most shocking and outrageous “news” makes for the most viewers in many cases. Let’s see…leading with the story of the Marine who saved the lives of his squad in Afghanistan, AND LIVED, or the kid who brought an empty handgun to school?

Helicopter parents are nothing new. It’s just that their kids are getting older now.

I have co-workers who have children who have graduated college, who can’t find jobs. What does that mean? They can’t find jobs, in their field of study, for what “they” consider a fair salary. So they moved home to sponge off Mom and Dad.

Don’t get me wrong, the economy and job market isn’t all smiles and sunshine, but it seems I can’t go a week without talking to a friend or someone else who can’t find workers (and these are no low-paying jobs I’m talking about).


It’s entitlement. It’s getting trophies for participating. It’s evening out the talent across a group of kids, whether it’s athletic or academic talent so you don’t “isolate” the lesser talented – when in actuality many times it’s not “talent” that makes the different but EFFORT. It’s teaching kids at an early age that they simply have to show up to get recognized.

You can call it whatever you want. All this starts at home. When I was young, and I’m sure I’m probably younger than many who have HS age kids, there was a secondary support system in place if a child didn’t get guidance and discipline at home. Schools could administer spankings. Coaches and teachers were AUTHORITY figures, not people looking to get a paycheck because they couldn’t find another job with their degree. (Not saying there aren’t good teachers now, there are – most are stymied by a school board or system that is more afraid of lawsuits or offending someone than raising well-rounded, productive children.)

Of course that’s just my opinion.