Opinion | Kristen Chase: It's the gift of childhood to believe you can be anything you want to be; it's the parents who get to carry the burden of reality. - NBCNewsTHINK
But for parents who have the means, coupled with children who are willing to put in the work even as they know that the odds are stacked against them, the lines can be blurry. Like Spalding-O'Neal, parents end up feeling damned if they do, damned if they don't."Sometimes I feel bad for doubting him, and he'll say, 'You don't believe in me!' But then, on the reverse, I feel guilty for supporting him. It's not that I don't believe in him and his ability.
Next, parents need to keep their antennae up and examine how their children are functioning in other parts of their lives, setting limits on athletics that encourage a well-rounded identity."Teenagers don't yet have the maturity to know how to compartmentalize and multitask. Parents need to provide that structure and discipline," he notes.
Finally, parents need to be the voice of reason with their kids, particularly in defining success. Fish suggests looking at success along four or five dimensions versus just focusing on whether the score of a game; parents can help kids understand that being healthy, learning something at practice or being a good teammate should all be considered"wins.