Whatever happened to plain old childhood FUN? Sure there was competitiveness in sport and organization in activities back in our day, but when kids got together for a game or let's say a dance class, it meant an hour or so off for mom and dad, AND an enjoyable pastime for the children. Apparently that's not the case anymore... at least not in a large number of instances.
I don't have small kids anymore but I couldn't help but engage in a conversation with a group of very stressed out ladies the other day who do.
If you ask me, sport is sadly becoming more about the parent and far less about the child. Shouldn't love of the activity and enjoyment come before competition at least to some extent? Especially when we're talking about young, impressionable children who are just building their confidence and getting a footing in the world (not to mention the parents who are just trying to engage their kids, keeping them active and social). I couldn't believe my ears when I heard how much more about money and appearances things have become.
One gal said she has never been so stressed about anything in all of her life. "There's no fun in dance class," I heard, and... "It's pretty sad when a mom has to come home after an event and have a shot to calm her nerves." That is sad. And to think she's paying for the stress as well as driving around to find it. Children are being told they're too heavy to play a certain role and as a parent if you haven't got the money to keep your child up to the standards that are laid out, prepare to feel like the 'odd man out'.
No longer do little dancers get together purely for the love of learning and enjoyment, it seems to be all about "the look." Every little girl has to first have the costumes to take part... understandable I guess for a uniform look in competition... but the rest is going way too far in my opinion. Each girl has to sport matching earrings. Each has to have a hair piece. They must coat on make-up, both foundation and blush. Their skirts must sit just so and heaven forbid they should put on a few pounds. It's NOT modelling - it's DANCE! I've personally witnessed a team of very young hockey players 'want to be' children lined up along the boards getting screamed at by an agitated "coach" - parents looking on. I've seen parents screaming from the side lines and others livid because "little Johnny" did not live up to their expectations. It's ridiculous. Kids will learn all about the competitive advantage soon enough, do we have to spoil all their childhood fun and innocence?
