Is My Pride For My Athletic Child Turning Into An Obsession?

Do you take a loss harder than your child?

Do you talk more to your child’s coach(es) than to your child?

Do you believe sports are the only option for your athletic child to go to college?

Do you think that the sports your kid is playing is more than just a game?

Based on your answers, it’s unlikely that your pride for your athletic child is turning into an obsession. This is the result we would like to see. As a parent of a (high school) athlete, you have a lot to be proud of! Your child goes to class and study, but he or she also works hard to be part of a sports team. It often happens that parents get very involved in the sports that their child participate in, and that’s a great thing! However, when the pride becomes an obsession, it will become a problem for the child and his or her athletic experience. Tell your child frequently you love him/her and that you are proud of him/her regardless of the game results.

Based on your answers, you are displaying one or two signs that your pride for your athletic child is turning into an obsession. Please be careful! As a parent of an athlete, it’s normal to feel proud and to express that pride. However, if a parent gets overinvolved and forgets that what matters is their child’s happiness, it becomes a problem. It’s important to support your athlete, however you should not forget that sports should not be the only focus. Even more important is for your child to establish himself as a successful and happy student and person.

Unfortunately, you are displaying the signs typically seen among parents whose pride for their athlete turned into an obsession. You should support your athlete always, but sports should not be the child’s one and only focus. What matters is that your child develops into a successful, happy student and person in general. The main focus should be on the needs of your child: what do they want to study, and where? The child should be the one deciding where to go to college, depending of course on the parent’s financial situation. The athlete needs to feel comfortable and happy with what they do, because that’s what really matters!