by Bridget ♥
Member since:
September 18, 2006

Why don't some parents have self control?

April 27, 2009 10:22 PM EDT (Updated: April 27, 2009 10:29 PM EDT)
views: 115 | comments: 34

My husband and I ALWAYS tell our kids that it's fine to get excited and be happy when you are winning, but also to be a good sport when you are losing! It's not all about winning, it's about the fun of the game!  I know it's hard, but that's what I'm teaching them! LOL! I want them to be gracious no matter how they are doing - win or lose.  We always tell them to do their best --- just doing their best is good enough! 

We also tell them that we are proud of them no matter what, as long as they do their best and have fun - that's all that matters!

It's crazy how some parents get SO competitive in sports, even with the 3 and 4 year olds! it's insane! My hubby is assistant coach and had to take parents to the side and tell them to calm down or leave! I've had to do the same thing with the moms, I always tell them it's about having fun and playing as a team - not about who wins or loses!

 

This weekend both Chandler and Stephy had soccer games, we play through our local Parks & Rec.  There are soccer teams that have children playing as young as 3 years old, that's when both our kids started playing!  Obviously at that age if you can get them on the field you are lucky, LOL!

Anyways, this weekend we witnessed two parents get into a fist fight because the ref called a goal for a 3 year old that the other parents didn't think should have been a goal!  SERIOUSLY, they are 3 years old for goodness sakes - if it's close to the goal - GIVE IT TO THEM! 

What kind of example are they setting for their children and the others that are also there?  What ever happen to teaching children about doing their best?  Good sportsmanship?  Being a good loser?

I've seen in in high school and professional sports as well, and I still think it's assanine! But these children are 3 and 4 years old!

People need to step back and THINK before they act!  Not only are they setting a bad example but they are making a total fool of themselves in front of all the other parents!

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Comments: 34

Kathy D. Apr 27, 2009, 10:23pm EDT
That's ridiculous
Jo N. Apr 27, 2009, 10:28pm EDT
I saw stuff like this many times when I played sports in high school, some of the parents got into the game way too much!
Kerrell g. Jun 9, 2009, 2:54pm EDT

Maybe it's because they are living through their kids...
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Apr 27, 2009, 10:29pm EDT
That is awful that parent do that.
♠~Dnbuster~♠ ~. Apr 27, 2009, 10:30pm EDT
It happens at many games.
Some parents just dont get that its just a game.
Diana B. Apr 27, 2009, 10:32pm EDT
You know, I feel if your child or children are doing the best they can, whether their team is winning or losing, parents should be proud of them and praise them for the putting forth their best efforts. After all, it is only a game, not a matter of life and death. I do agree that some parents do need to look at themselves and see the negative examples they are setting for their kids.
Janet "Jax" B. Apr 27, 2009, 10:34pm EDT
It's like that with all the sports now....when I coached basketball, I wouldn't let the parents say a word...LOL...if they started to yell at the team or a player, I'd stop the game and kick the parent out.
Stacey *Mamasaid* D. Apr 27, 2009, 10:34pm EDT
Let me tell you, it got so bad around here in the private league my son and his friends quit. The parents were brawlilng right outside the police headquarters where the field was!!! I had no idea soccer could get so brutal. My son does school sports now and it seems to be somewhat more civilized (though not always). I agree, I can't believe the example these parents are setting. What happened to "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game"???
Elizabeth B. Apr 27, 2009, 10:36pm EDT
because some people are just made that way!
I see it all the time here, bothers me to no end~
Jeez!
Kerrell g. Apr 27, 2009, 10:39pm EDT
I agree, Stacey. It seems that it's like the parents are living their lives through their kids.
Larry H. Apr 27, 2009, 10:40pm EDT
thanks for sharing.
Elaine A. Apr 27, 2009, 10:42pm EDT
oh geeze, that is horrible, why not just enjoy the sports & the kids, it is so cute to watch the little ones
kelldogg ! Apr 27, 2009, 10:50pm EDT
that's just silly that parents would take the fun out of a child's sporting even. i mean, they are 3yrs old! at that age, they are just having fun, not going for any sort of world record!
Erinn K. Apr 27, 2009, 11:05pm EDT
Thats crazy!!!
Kerry (A tree, not a lemon) .. Apr 27, 2009, 11:15pm EDT
Other kids parents suck.
It's a fact, a truth.

Bleh@crazyfistfightingparents.ack
Niju S. Apr 27, 2009, 11:45pm EDT
funny one.1
Steph-in-NE ..... Apr 28, 2009, 1:12am EDT
life is funny this way
Val G. Apr 28, 2009, 1:44am EDT
Wow, that is totally crazy! Their children will learn a lot from them, and it won't be good.
The world is getting crazier by the day. Thanks for the informative article.
I'm a firm believer that sportsmanship is an excuse for losers! lol
j - Frugal Mom - r. Apr 28, 2009, 4:45am EDT
We have seen this as well. I cannot help but think about what it is that these parents are teaching their parents.
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Apr 28, 2009, 8:37am EDT
I have never understood how people could get so angry over a game..I guess I am not the big in to sports.
Mrslisae Photography E. Apr 28, 2009, 8:37am EDT
Its so sad but I saw a lot of this when my nieces and nephews played sports
Melissa Richardson Apr 28, 2009, 10:07am EDT
That's terrible! And why would you want to embarrass yourself like that?

These kids just want to have fun playing the game.
Whitney A. Apr 28, 2009, 10:45am EDT
That is ridiculous to get in a fist fight over a gmae. Parents need to learn that it's supposed to be fun for kids.
Tamara L~will view, may comment~ S. Apr 28, 2009, 11:22am EDT
It's a shame that the parents are not settin a good example. It's bad enough when they fight over important things, but a game for young kids, absurd. If they get like that over a game, I'd be afraid of how they are at home.
Alex In Wonderland Apr 28, 2009, 11:29am EDT
A fist fight? Oh God! I remember my senior year in high school we were playing another team (tennis) and their team kept cheating! There were so many of our team members calling fouls that the coaches were only able to closely monitor certain matches and the rest of the team kept getting screwed. We lost of course though we made it clear that we were aware of their cheating. Of course I still have some negatives thoughts about the people and the game but we handled ourselves well. We didn't call them names, we didn't get into any physical fights. We just called them out, did what we could to prevent it and let it go.

In the case of a THREE YEAR OLD it's hard to have rights and wrongs during a hectic soccer game. If a kid happens to get a ball into the net it's a goal. Doesn't matter HOW it happened. Just that it did. And everyone should be happy about it or get over themselves! Even when they are 6 or 7 years old they are still learning the ropes- and there are a lot of them for soccer. It's hard for an excited child to stay on their side when the ball is on the other side.

Those parents should feel like idiots because of the example they set for their kids, your kids, all of the other kids that were forced to watch.
Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Apr 28, 2009, 11:49am EDT
That is what happens when a society becomes so individualistic--not to mention consumeristic. If we can't care about the fact that the soccer ball those three-year olds are playing with was probably made by a child in a sweatshop, what are the odds of us caring about not ruining the joy of a game?
Monica H. Apr 29, 2009, 1:43am EDT
There are many folks around that are IMMATURE. They don't think before they act on something and it shows.
Courtney C. Apr 29, 2009, 8:20am EDT
I'm not a good loser, but I'd never get in a fist fight over my 3-year-old scoring/not scoring a goal. That's just stupid.
Debby C. May 5, 2009, 9:05pm EDT
I think these parents are all the ones who didn't make the team in High School....LOL
Erinn K. May 19, 2009, 6:49pm EDT
Crazy!!
Glitter Text Generator
Leslie ~ from NYC ~ R. May 21, 2009, 9:33am EDT

and there have been court cases and deaths due to parental fights at games.  That should slow anyone down...

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