I think all parents in some form or another would like to think that their kid is better at something then someone else's kid. Did that make sense? Anyway, as a father to 2 boys I find myself thinking that way from time to time. Whether it's watching them on the playground or watching my son play soccer, I can't help to think that I want them to be the best at what they are doing. Is it a normal instinct to want that, or is it what we as Americans have learned to expect? There is no doubt in my mind that competition is a larger part of society here in the United States.
My wife, who grew up in France but who has lived in the US for the last 10 years, has come to see my train of thought. She sees all the other Soccer Moms and can't help but fall into the same game. She asks me if we should be pushing my older son (who's 5) to play more sports. He currently plays soccer and learns Kung Fu. He also goes to a French-immersed school and learns both French and English equally. The problem is that there are other kids that are doing the same thing except they play Baseball or Basketball also. We both think that doing another activity is way too much, but competition wants us to add another activity. Even though the site reads "The Sports Dad", don't think that I'm that psychotic. Sure I want my kids to succeed and do good, but I have never once snapped at them because they didn't do something the way I wanted it. This brings me to the article that I read about "Growing a Super Athlete".
There are two formulas that the authors speaks of that tell the entire story:
Intense Parents + Young Kids + Rigorous Technique + Toughness = Talent
Deliberate Practice + Time = Myelin = Talent
So what makes these kids rise above the rest? I still think it has a lot to do with LUCK. The author does a great job explaining the possibilities though. I guess the question you have to ask yourself as a parent is, "Do I want my kid to lose his entire childhood to possibly be great at one thing?" It's a big step and one in which I don't think I could make. Luckily I don't think we are at a point in which we have to. If the day does arrive in which we do have to choose, I hope it will be the right choice, one not based on competition and one not made by the rest of society.
How to Grow a Super-Athlete (Play Magazine)
Round Up (The Big Lead)
