Posted on 03/07/2023 2:26:45 PM PST by nickcarraway
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Copy (Opens in new window) serena williams Shutterstock Serena Williams revealed in an interview that her 5-year-old daughter Olympia doesn’t like to play tennis—and how she’s encouraging her to pick up the racket If your mom was the greatest tennis player of all time, would you want to follow in her footsteps and take up the sport? I mean, imagine the pressure. That’s why it’s so dang relatable that Serena Williams just revealed how her daughter isn’t really into tennis—not that that’s stopping the GOAT from encouraging her mini-me to share in her love of the sport.
During an appearance on CBS News’ Person to Person with Norah O’Donnell this week, Williams told host Norah O’Donnell that her 5-year-old daughter Olympia “doesn’t actually like to play tennis too much.”
Williams continued, “That’s a little disappointing for me, but she’s actually really good at it. So we are trying to figure out a way to get her to play a little bit.”
Williams revealed that she’s not above using some creative tactics to try to encourage Olympia to take to the court.
“Maybe I can push her into tennis by getting other kids to have a group lesson, I think that’s what I’m gonna do,” she said.
While Williams could maaaaybe let her daughter be her own person, it’s also pretty adorable that she wants to share this passion with her mini-me. Olympia is only 5, so she has plenty of time to find her own hobbies (and suck it up and play some tennis to make her mom happy, if that’s what she chooses to do).
In 2021, Williams opened up to People magazine about signing Olympia up for her first tennis lessons.
“Honestly, we started because it’s a socially safe sport, and when COVID happened, it was like, we’re just in the house with a 3-year-old, what do we do?” Williams said at the time. “There was only one answer, to my dismay.”
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Williams joked that the experience made her go into “tennis mom” mode, and that the instructor “has no idea that it’s my daughter, so we’ll see how that goes.”
She added, “I’m not a pushy mom, but I know how I like techniques, I want to make sure she’s good at teaching Olympia some techniques.”
Well, if an instructor doesn’t teach the right techniques, we think we know how Olympia can fill in the gaps.
Just like a farmer’s son saying “I don’t want to farm” or a plumber’s son telling his dad he has no interest in taking over dad’s plumbing business. Something my dad and his brother both said to my grandfather.
It’s tough when kids dont share your interests. Just don’t let it bother you and try to encourage them with whatever hobby or sport their interests lie in. You’ll feel better.
Its a fine line. Pushing your kids to do an activity YOU love, especially when its an activity outside of necessary basic education and morality, may result in them hating it.
Truth.
Let her have a try at many things. Hell, she’s 5 for pete’s sake.
If she has mom and auntie’s athletic genes, she may find some sport SHE is passionate about. Or not.
My dad hated the fact I didn’t want to play football or basketball. He was a state champ in both. I loved boxing. I wasn’t Catholic but I was welcomed in CYO boxing. And I won the Indiana state CYO championship 4 years straight. Dad still thought I squandered my ability. You love doing what you love doing.
Truth!
So she is ranked above ALL other tennis players (including male players) of all time?
When did that happen?
My spouse and I are both highly trained musicians. Both kids have a lot of musical aptitude, but we didn’t push them or make them take lessons. One is now majoring in music in college. The other is still resisting but definitely a writer and actor.
As a teenager I tried to learn tennis from my friend who was ranked in the top 20 for his age in California. Waste of his time, waste of my time, and no fun.
Maybe she should teach her daughter to grunt first.
Baby steps...
She could probably be a monster basketball player, though that is leas lucrative—and has plenty of time to decide what, if any sports at all, she really likes.
How creepy.
Sounds like child abuse may be occurring.
BTW - with a name like “Olympia” it seems like the mommy want s her daughter to go for Olympic gold.
Well, I think kids should be kept out of the spotlight. It is just good for their development.
I see what you did there.
Nice!
I know how she feels; my son has no interest in motorcycles.
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