WATCHING OUR Kids

Submitted by Bruce Lundeby

"I don’t know what percentage of events is the right number to attend. I know it does not need to be 100%, and really should not be ... I do know that never is not enough."

Our daughter was a cheerleader in high school. We went to nearly all of the local games, but none of the away games. We were the parents sitting quietly on the very top row of the bleachers. It’s more comfortable to have the wall as a backrest.

​During her junior year, our daughter told us it was embarrassing that we came to every game. Out of respect to her, we stopped going to most of the home games. One of her teammates asked her why we had stopped coming to the games. When our daughter explained, her teammate asked why in the world would she wanted her parents to stay away. Our daughter learned that this girl’s father had never ever seen her cheer.

We were invited by our daughter to attend her games again. The teammate noticed right away and told us “it’s great to see you again”. All I could hear was “my dad never comes to see me”.

I don’t know what percentage of events is the right number to attend. I do know it does not need to be 100% and really should not be. Maybe even 50% is more than is required. I do know that never is not enough.

Read more:
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Bruce Lundeby is a father, husband and Software Development Program Manager.

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