Kids and Basketball

I know I haven't talked much about my other non-paying yet most important job, being a parent. However, it is foremost on my mind right now, and I've found that writing down my ideas in Steemit has helped to clarify my thinking. My 4th grader just finished her basketball season. It was her first year playing basketball and I think she didn't do half bad. It doesn't hurt that she is 5'1" at age 9 (she has tall parents). Her team did well, 9-2-1 and it was fun rooting for her team. I tried hard not to be "that parent" that yells too much, but basketball seems to bring it out in me. I find it way more stressful to be a parent in basketball than soccer or softball.

In the past, she has played multiple seasons of soccer and baseball/softball. Now we are trying to decide what sport she should play next for her spring sport. Part of me wants her to start specializing a little bit, but overspecialization at an early age can actually hurt their physical development. All things being equal, softball is on the schedule next but there is also spring soccer to consider. Softball is her weakest sport right now, so part of me wants her to skip it, but a lot of her friends are playing and want her to play too, so that is certainly going to sway her.

It's always a challenge as a parent to weigh your child's wants versus what you think is best for him/her. I am still deciding, but I think right now at her age I just want to keep it fun. There will be plenty of time for serious sports later, but right now I want her to enjoy what she is doing so she'll keep doing it. Thus I am inclined to just let her go with whatever she thinks would be the most fun for her.