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I came *this close* to becoming one of those obnoxious parents (a mini-rant)

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Baron Scicluna, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. apeman33

    apeman33 Well-Known Member

    Well, isn't the USSSA the one that decrees that just about every summer tournament is a "National" tournament (or is that ASA?)? So of course they give out rings to the best team out of 8 from a 6-county area that won a "National" tournament.
     
  2. HanSenSE

    HanSenSE Well-Known Member

    True ... and don't their age groups start with under-4?
     
  3. JonnyD

    JonnyD Member

    I think the USSSA will also generously sell you an insurance plan for your team during their tournaments.
     
  4. CentralIllinoisan

    CentralIllinoisan Active Member

    I agree with Hate-Miser in wondering why they give trophies at all, especially if only 10 or so kids are involved. It's fishing day with your family. Good enough.

    As for how to handle your son, make it a teachable moment. Kids are smart enough to realize that you have to earn trophies.
     
  5. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    Upper deck the scout leader...
     
  6. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Last year, there was something like 25, 30 kids participating, and practically everyone caught at least one fish, with some of the kids catching 7, 8, 9 of them (mostly sunfishes). Then, I can see handing out 4 trophies.

    There was actually another "Little League parent" moment at that one, when my youngest snagged a fish, but needed help reeling it in because he wasn't strong enough. I helped him, and one of the other parents was bitching about how I helped him. He thought all the kids should reel them in themselves. The scout leaders ignored him.

    This year, the weather wasn't as good, and only 10 kids were around. I was more bothered that the scout leader was willing to change the rules to allow No. 2 kid to get the No. 1 Fish trophy, but wasn't willing to bend them so that my kid wouldn't be left out of the trophy receiving. To me, I thought it was inconsistency. All 10 kids will receive a patch, though, at the next meeting. They'll be happy with those.

    Otherwise, the little guy doesn't seem too perturbed. He played with friends when we got home, and that was it. So I guess it worked out that I didn't make a fuss.
     
  7. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Tell that to Jim Joyce, Don Denkinger and Rich Garcia. :)
     
  8. CentralIllinoisan

    CentralIllinoisan Active Member

    I see your point about giving one child an "unearned" trophy, while the only kid who caught a fish and didn't get a trophy (your son) was left out because he didn't "earn" it. That does seem very inconsistent, given these circumstances.

    But like you said, live and learn. We don't give kids enough credit for understanding fair play.
     
  9. I Should Coco

    I Should Coco Well-Known Member

    Looks like you and the Mrs. handled things well, Baron.

    Don't worry ... the real parental pettiness will come out at Pinewood Derby time. :)
     
  10. forever_town

    forever_town Well-Known Member

    One of the things kids these days don't learn enough is that not everyone gets a participation trophy or medal.

    Life isn't fair sometimes. The way you handled it was fine.
     
  11. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Oh, God, don't remind me about Pinewood Derby.

    I'm totally useless with building and mechanical stuff, and usually we have a friend of ours who is in construction help the kids build their cars. As is, their cars usually finish in last place. But at least they finish. If I helped the kids, they wouldn't even make it halfway down the track.
     
  12. I Should Coco

    I Should Coco Well-Known Member

    Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack with horror stories about Pinewood Derby time. But your posts took me back to a few years ago, when my son was a Cub Scout.

    I liked just about every aspect of scouting EXCEPT Pinewood Derby. Long, drawn-out arguments between parents about weigh-in rules, who gets to be on which track, the bracket ... Meanwhile, the kids were there to have fun and would have the best time (besides eating slices of pizza) racing their cars down the hallway of the school after they were eliminated.

    But my main pet peeve about that longtime Cub Scout event: it's become more "look at this fast car my dad made" rather than "look at this cool car WE made."

    I'm no ace handyman either, but my son and I made the best of our skills and had fun cutting, sanding and painting the cars together.

    Your friend hopefully has the right idea, Baron -- help the kids with dangerous tools like saws, drills, etc., but let them play the major role in designing and finishing the car.
     
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