Good article that's full of common sense. These soccer moms, and baseball dads get on my last nerve. If they want to create a relationship with their kids, get them out of the house and have them help you garden. These days, modern cars need to be taken to a mechanic for tune ups, but even though I was a girl, I would be under the hood with Dad handing him tools. We would also watch World At War on Sunday afternoons. I was never in organized sports.
I would argue that sports is an important ELEMENT in the development of a young man, and, since a lot of guys like sports, it presents a wonderful bonding opportunity for fathers and sons. And yes I am bias- I have 4 boys and a girl, I coach youth football, and I also participate in Taekwondo with several of my children.
The key is that as a father you CANNOT equate success on the field of play with parental love or acceptance. Participation in sports can be used to teach many valuable life lessons.
Sitting and watching a football game with your kids also provides an opportunity to spend time together.
Joshua
Wow, me too, both those things! I thought I was the only one (and I'm a girl, too).
Some of the best times I had with my dad were doing ordinary stuff like that. I particularly liked going to the hardware store with him.
I ran track in high school but they never came to the meets (most of them were on the road at other county schools) but he'd ask him "how'd you do?" when he got home from work and that would be the end of it.
LQ