Parental Pressure
So we've heard it all before: parents on the sidelines becoming overly-active in 'supporting' their kids, parents pressuring their kids to study harder for exams - parents just being parents.
I've been lucky. My parents are genuinely nice people, support me in the things I do etc. Sure, they don't like me getting bad marks at school - I mean they are paying my school fees so I can hopefully get a good start in life. They do notice when I'm slacking off school, but I guess thats expected.They don't get angry when I don't do well in sport - they just encourage me not to give up. I thank them for that.
But sometimes I feel a little awkward going to the tennis courts to play and seeing kids on the courts next to me being forced to do push-ups if they don't run fast enough, or don't hit a ball hard enough or whatever. Then I watch the tennis tournaments on tv - and sure enough, there is evidence of parental pressure there. Parents sitting by the sidelines, getting angry at umpire calls and such.
I've met competitve people in my life. Very competitive people. I think at first that they're just naturally like this; but then I meet their parents. Competitive, rude...the usual. They just want 'whats best for their kids'. I feel sorry for my parents dealing with other parents.
My mum once had to coach my sister's netball team. And ended up quitting. Not because of the people in the team, but because of the bitchiness with the teams' parents. Nothing my mum did was good enough. Bitch, bitch, bitch was all she ever heard. And even after she quit, this bitching continued. People saying that she did a terrible job. The uniforms weren't good enough. Even though my mum was the one who organised everything - from match times, to training days and even equipment.
But parental pressure doesn't only exist in sporting arenas. What about how you act? You don't dress to their requirements, you don't act in a certain way - so the only option is to continue to rebel. Rebel more and more, hoping that they'll lay off.
I guess a little bit of parental guidance can help - but in large amounts, its horrible.
Maybe you've suffered from something similar? I'd like to hear your experiences.
I've been lucky. My parents are genuinely nice people, support me in the things I do etc. Sure, they don't like me getting bad marks at school - I mean they are paying my school fees so I can hopefully get a good start in life. They do notice when I'm slacking off school, but I guess thats expected.They don't get angry when I don't do well in sport - they just encourage me not to give up. I thank them for that.
But sometimes I feel a little awkward going to the tennis courts to play and seeing kids on the courts next to me being forced to do push-ups if they don't run fast enough, or don't hit a ball hard enough or whatever. Then I watch the tennis tournaments on tv - and sure enough, there is evidence of parental pressure there. Parents sitting by the sidelines, getting angry at umpire calls and such.
I've met competitve people in my life. Very competitive people. I think at first that they're just naturally like this; but then I meet their parents. Competitive, rude...the usual. They just want 'whats best for their kids'. I feel sorry for my parents dealing with other parents.
My mum once had to coach my sister's netball team. And ended up quitting. Not because of the people in the team, but because of the bitchiness with the teams' parents. Nothing my mum did was good enough. Bitch, bitch, bitch was all she ever heard. And even after she quit, this bitching continued. People saying that she did a terrible job. The uniforms weren't good enough. Even though my mum was the one who organised everything - from match times, to training days and even equipment.
But parental pressure doesn't only exist in sporting arenas. What about how you act? You don't dress to their requirements, you don't act in a certain way - so the only option is to continue to rebel. Rebel more and more, hoping that they'll lay off.
I guess a little bit of parental guidance can help - but in large amounts, its horrible.
Maybe you've suffered from something similar? I'd like to hear your experiences.
I don't know =[[
I get a put under a lot of pressure when it comes to piano.
My parents are really REALLY f*cking serious about it.
They want me to do what they want me to do, not what I want to do.
I can't bloody have friends over because of piano. I can't go to my friend's houses and stuff because of piano.
And this year for my year six exams, its really difficult, and if I don't get an A, my mum will really hurt me. She'd cry, and it'd make me feel bad.
Its hard for me to continue getting A's all the f*cking time.
Year eight is the last level probably right? And then there's masters and stuff.
Yeah. Its hard, and I'm tired and I want a break.
They don't like the way I dress either. They think I'm a retard. And they're embarrassed to tell people that I'm their daughter because of my ugliness and my
bad attitude".
Oh poop.
My parents are weird. Especially my mum, always giving me death threats.
Really annoying.
I always say "I DON'T CARE. KILL ME ALREADY!" But she never does.
I am done.
Dobbemort_8thHorcrux, April 17th, 2007 at 07:45:07am
I don't get the so much direct parent pressure.
I get the silent type of pressure.
I got the DUX award of my gender and year level last year, straight A's, and teachers put so much trust, and some pressure on me.
On my reports, i got the same amount of points throughout the whole year. 53/56 each term. out of 4 terms.
And i'm meant to live up to that this year.
So this term i'm under a bit which seems to be a lot of pressure this term to do exceptionally well, better than last year.
I'm meant to live up to certain standards. And if i don't meet them then i feel i've failed.
I was happy when my mum said that she didn't expect me to get the same marks as i did last year this term.
I think she's noticed that i haven't been as focused as i used to be.
But that's probably because i had to get comfortable with new teachers.
Stef., April 8th, 2007 at 11:46:31am
I used to do HEAPS of athletics. I guess i was just one of those hyper-active kids that was just born with the ability to run fast and not get puffed out.
At first i thought it was fun, for me anyways, all i loved doing was running around. It was fun. But then my dad got a little too involved when he realised that i was actually quite good. He put me into some competitions throughout the state, and kinda fooled me and lied about things, just little things, it was really annoying and sad.
After a few years of it, i got fed up, i completely hated me dad making me go running and making me feel bad when i didnt want to go training.
So i quit, altogether, out of the blue, just finished off the season with athletics and quit. I didnt say the real reason why i quit, although my brother who is still oing running obviously knows, he just hasnt quit yet, and now he has taken it seriously and is regretting so.
But im out of it, so im not complaining.
Thats also why i love playing guitar, cause my dad has NO interest in it whatsoever, so he wont ruin my dream of become a guitarist no matter what i do. Cause my dad WONT get involved with it.
Vegemite, April 8th, 2007 at 12:51:14am
I played soccer too - and I also noticed an idiotic coach. They were the winning team of the season, and were also very rough in their play. Unfairly tripping people over, swearing, barging ... everything. But I also noticed that they're not very happy players either, despite the fact they beat nearly every team.
The Brightside., April 7th, 2007 at 11:24:13pm
I've played soccer all my life. When I was younger, my dad used to coach some of the rec teams. When I started travel, he stopped. My coach now is great, he's like a dad to me. My school coach is really into winning and puts that above all else, including girls' health. I'm not too keen on school soccer because of that.
But I've seen some other coaches who treat their players like sh*t. I've talked to girls on other teams and I've met quite a few who want to quit simply because of how much pressure is put on them. Sports is supposed to fun, above all. When it stops becoming that because of coaches, it's a shame.
Rainbows in the Dark, April 7th, 2007 at 09:11:47pm