Pressure

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First let me say I am on not on here only for myself...but as ?a parent and coach who loves the game and tries to use this site to get info to help my DD and the players I coach....
Second, My DD has been second guessing her softball career because of some decisions ?that happend the last couple weeks....She asked me two nights ago if I would be upset if she did not play ball in college.. Yes I was shocked .I told her "I could care less if you play softball in college' She looked at me funny. Then I said" I want you to be happy doing what you want, You playing ball in college NEVER crossed my mind, not because of talent but because you are a very smart and intelligant woman who will succeed in far more than softball" She gave me a hug and went to her room....I am not sure if these means anything to anyone else but what I got from it is, I put pressure on my DD everyday about EVERTHING, for HER to be sucsessfull in the real world. She assumed I was pressuring her to be the BEST at everything when she really needs to be the best at being herself......

 

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She assumed I was pressuring her to be the BEST at everything when she really need to be the best at being herself......

perfectly said.

 

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Lets try something, for one month we all quit asking are kids how was school, quit checking their home work, quit checking on them to see if they did their chors around the house and anything else that they may feel pressured into completing. For just one month, no pressure. I wonder what the outcome would be??? I'm not being sarcastic, just a thought!

 

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To much pressure? ?Although in TODAYS world (quite a diff from 25 years ago) we do put more pressure on our kids, or do we? ?How many kids s o c c e r (and I am no fan of s o c c e r) games where parents are not allowed to keep score or even cheer? ?How many local leauges stress " this is a learning leauge" please don't stress the importance of winning and losing. ?And for god sake never keep batting averages. ?It makes me want to PUKE!!!!! ?So many parents in todays society want to coddle their children to the point that they will not put them in the position to fail. ?Life is about winning and losing. ?Have I raised my voice at my daughter to the point of bringing tears? ?Yes I have. ?Will I do it again? ?If needed. ?Has she grown as a person because of it? ?I beleive she has. ?She is still learning hard work brings success. ?Hard work has its rewards. ?Striving to be second is no option. Oh, she's also a Straight A student and occasionally a great player. ?On a team built for sucess. ? ?Now some of you may read this and think "oh another wacked out softball dad" ?And I have no problem with that. ?But down the line in life, my dd will reap the rewards fastpitch has taught her. ?And as we sit around the pool of god knows how many hotels this summer, drinking a pop (yea right) and talking softball with the various teams that are staying in the same hotel, our daughters are splashing away in the pool after 3 games in 80 plus degrees temps without a care in the world. ?And as we watch them, we see not a bit of pressure in their world.