Kids and parents struggle to make the right call

"I still don’t think I would take it upon myself to alert the parent, but I’d file it away in case the opportunity ever arose to say something."

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April 10, 2020 - 2:39 PM

Dear Carolyn: My 8-year-old shared that his teammate told the team he “only plays baseball so his dad will like him.” When you watch the kid play, it is clear he is desperate for his dad’s approval. But it is not clear Dad has any idea his kid thinks he has to play for his dad “to like him.”

Carolyn HaxCourtesy photo

Should I tell the dad what my kid reported? Sorta heartbreaking if Dad truly doesn’t know . . . but not really my business . . . but the poor kid. — Tell?

Tell?: Uuuuugh.

I’m going to semi-answer, semi-crowdsource this one, because I approach this with some trepidation. I have been here to a degree, watching the occasional kid over the years clearly playing to satisfy an overinvested parent. I’ve never said anything, because I agree it’s not a bystander’s business.

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