When NFL players get attention off the filed, it's usually for something involving the authorities. This time however, one NFL star is getting attention for his parenting. Linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, James Harrison, is getting some heat, and some praise for a post he made on social media concerning his kids and their "participation trophy."

 

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of...

Posted by James Harrison on Saturday, August 15, 2015

Honestly, I'm defiantly on the side of the argument that sides with Mr. Harrison. My daughters know, that if you want to win, you have to do your best, and that sometimes your best isn't enough. Our household believes that you will learn more from falling down and picking yourself back up. I have never been one to just "let my kids win." Yes, there were tears on occasion, with the statement "Daddy won't let me win." But that's the point... if you want to win, work harder, practice more, learn and do better next time.

Not all kids are star athletes, and parents need to understand that. Too many times I see parents pushing kids that have no athletic ability, expecting them to be stars, getting upset at the coaches when their child underperforms or doesn't succeed. There is a reason only a small percent of the population are professional athletes.

The same can be said when it comes to academics. There is a reason why everyone is NOT a doctor, lawyer, engineer or rocket scientist. Some people are just more included with academic abilities.

So why do people demand that their child get an award for just showing up, or a pass / fail grade. If someone is performing heart surgery on someone you love, do you want the A+ student or the doctor that passed with a C-?

Lower grades or coming up short in your goal is what drives people to get better and to succeed. When you see that other person at work get that bonus, that's in place to motivate you to work harder to achieve the same reward. As an athlete who has played in many championships, not always winning, the heartbreak of loss would push me the rest of the year.

I do understand how some people believe that you need to protect the fragile psyche of children, however, I believe that there is a time that coddling needs to stop, otherwise you end up with group of entitled adults.

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