Kid's sports: Take it from me, don't be that parent

Or: if looks could kill and they often do.

I came across a post on Instagram the other day that really set me off. I’d say that I was “triggered” except that I’m not particularly fond of that word. I think the word “triggered” has gotten a bad rap due to overuse and really, it’s just another way to describe PTSD.

And while I’ve never been officially diagnosed with PTSD, I know that I have at least some form of it because every now and then, I get reminders that hit me like a punch to the gut.

The post I found the other day was one such reminder.

The post was about kid’s sports and how parents react when their kids are not performing to expectations. It was created by a parent who’s life revolves around her child’s athletics.

The post featured a picture of Denzel Washington from his film, The Equalizer, in which he plays a lethal assassin.

The look on his face is one that I am all too familiar with as a person who had an overbearing, angry and controlling parent when I played sports.

The gist of the meme was this:

“Is it just me or do you expect your kid to hustle at all times? Am I expecting too much? I don't think so. Some, I'm sure think I'm too hard on him. I say, you haven't met my husband! LMAO!

We teach our kids that their extracurricular activities are a privilege, not a right.

Work harder in practice so games are easier.

Show respect for your coaches by paying attention & hustling.

I'm old school. I can't help it. LMAO!”

The comments underneath the meme, which were in the hundreds, were overwhelmingly in support of this philosophy. Not only were people cheering this on but they were asking for examples of how to implement this in practice and one upping each other with stories of how they punish, harass, bully and intimidate their children so that they perform to the parent’s expectations.

Or else.

Some real gems included:

“If he so much as walks, he instinctively now knows he's screwing up and will turn around to look at me. He knows I'm watching." - re: a 6 year old.

"I changed my whole sleep schedule for this sport. Dinner at 9:45, lol. Run!! Fuck yeah, lol."

"Ain't no walking at practice, better not be walking in the game or it's "suicide" time after."

"Move your ass!!"