If there were a contest for crazier parent who would win? The dance mom, making sure their child is getting the lead in every performance and yelling at the instructor when their child doesn’t get the star role? Or is it the sideline dad, screaming at the umpire for calling a strike that was clearly a ball and yelling at their kid to do better and try harder? Which is worse?
With a son that is in love with sports and being a parent that loves to support any kid playing in sports, I wonder if I will become a sideline dad. Will I be the guy yelling at the ref because my son is being attacked in the water while playing water polo and they aren’t calling the foul? Will I be the dad yelling at my son because he missed a foul shot during the big game?
Now that we are expecting a daughter soon I start to think maybe I will be the dance mom. Will I be at every practice counting the steps that my daughter should be getting correct? Will I be the one on the front row of the performance doing the steps making sure my daughter is getting them perfect? Will I be talking to her teacher telling her that she needs to make sure my daughter is the prima ballerina? Will I make comments to my daughter that she is looking a little chubby and maybe needs to start dieting?
Aren’t these all crazy ideas? The crazy thing is, this is really how some parents are. They become so focused on their child being number one, getting everything perfect or their leaders or coaches not doing it the way they think they should. I want my children to enjoy these fun activities and learn from leaders that know what they are talking about.
I will, on the other hand, be at every performance, cheer at every game and thank their teachers for taking the time to teach my child. It is so much better for your children to see your example and watch how you react to their mistakes. They are going to happen and your children will learn from them. You are here to help them along the way and encourage them to work hard and succeed, but that doesn’t mean that your child has to win every award, play every sport or dance on the front row every time.
Being a dance mom isn’t what you should strive to be, it’s all about support. And sideline dads can be their to cheer their children on, support their successes and teach them when they don’t do everything perfectly.
So who would win in the dance mom vs sideline dad? Who cares. What matters is supporting your children and being there to see them succeed in the sports or activities that they love to do.
