What is your child's success worth to you?

[Guest]

Following these discussion boards for some time, surprised at how crazy they have been recently. Made me wonder?

What is it all worth to you?

Your Daughter/Son playing in college is worth...?
Your Daughter/Son playing any form of pro is worth...?

Losing your perspective, alienating friends/sideline parents, defaming yourself, putting excess pressure on your kid is worth...^^^?

I think some basics can be summed up in the following:

Kids go D1-D3 every year from all sorts of clubs and Higschool programs 1A-4A
College players get pulled to go pro or USNT every year from various schools in varying divisions
I found myself getting so involved in my child's sports that it was creating excess stress on me and them as well, I never saw it until I took a step back and reassessed
My child is playing the game for what it is now, is extremely happy, and enjoying the time again

Our kids grow up fast, took me a bunch of years to realize what I was missing, I wish I would have figured it out earlier

I want the best for my child, I want them to go as far as they want to go, but......now I am going to let them drive to get there and offer background support when asked :)

Hope tryouts worked out for everyone and you are excited about your new (or old) team and the crew you get to cheer with on the side!

[Guest]

This!

[Guest]

From 4th grade to HS, lots of time and gas mileage spent driving to practices 3x a week, games on weekends, travelling to tournaments, standing in torrential rain at times. Then club fees, uniform fees and travel expenses on top of that. Was it worth it? Spending time with your kid, watching him play the game he loves, watching him learn and grow, cheering him on from the sidelines, absokutely priceless. He’s now playing in college and I miss his youth soccer days. Enjoy these moments, time passes so quickly.

[Guest]

From 4th grade to HS, lots of time and gas mileage spent driving to practices 3x a week, games on weekends, travelling to tournaments, standing in torrential rain at times. Then club fees, uniform fees and travel expenses on top of that. Was it worth it? Spending time with your kid, watching him play the game he loves, watching him learn and grow, cheering him on from the sidelines, absokutely priceless. He’s now playing in college and I miss his youth soccer days. Enjoy these moments, time passes so quickly.

100% <3

[Guest]

From 4th grade to HS, lots of time and gas mileage spent driving to practices 3x a week, games on weekends, travelling to tournaments, standing in torrential rain at times. Then club fees, uniform fees and travel expenses on top of that. Was it worth it? Spending time with your kid, watching him play the game he loves, watching him learn and grow, cheering him on from the sidelines, absokutely priceless. He’s now playing in college and I miss his youth soccer days. Enjoy these moments, time passes so quickly.

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes, it's so exhausting, soccer is taking over our lives but the memories are priceless.

[Guest]

As long as my kids have a fun experience plying soccer, can learn and grow, it is all worth it.

[Guest]

You just have to get your adult priorities straight to make is worth it. We spend countless hours running kids around. That run around time is precious to me. Doesn't matter the sport, we would spend that time anyway. If not soccer we would find something else. Robotics club, baseball etc. The key is when my kid says they don't enjoy the sport or don't want to commit at this level. We quit exactly after the season and find something else. No pressure, no parent never give up shaming nada. So I have 1 boy that quit soccer in 10th grade and is happy and healthy, in college and still wants to spend time with me. He even plays outdoor uncompetitive men's league with me. So I hope I succeeded in giving him a lifelong sport to enjoy with friends and get exercise. My last kid is still going strong "chasing the ECNL dream". I feel lucky to sit on planes and cars and continue to have conversation with him for as long as it lasts.

[Guest]

I wan my kid to run with super wealthy. The type of kid from good homes that they otherwise wouldn it have a chance to mix with.

[Guest]

I wan my kid to run with super wealthy.

"Super wealthy" are those software engineers from Eastside who still have to work for a living?