word...most sport fanatics are usually overweight nonathletic dudes anyways, ask him if he likes xtreme sports like skateboarding or bmx'ing...i switched from basketball to skateboarding and it was the greatest move ever..so much more fun and challenging
My son has played every sport there is, and was good too. He approached me one day and told me that he didnt want to play sports anymore. All he wanted to play was his guitar. I was kind of upset at first but I didnt push it. He likes watching games with me. Its not important too me at all because Ive seen how he has progressed musically and now I could care less if he plays. What ever they do, just keep him busy doing something he likes.
I wouldn't worry about it not everyone likes sports. The main thing you want to do is encourage him to spend his time doing productive things that he enjoys.
When you read him his bedtime stories.. you can read articles from the Rocket's championship years. tinman would agree.
I was made to play little league when I was kid by my mother (my parents were divorced....and I have issues), and I was resentful to be made to do anything (I'm still like this). My dad was a sports nut. To this day I feel a little guilty because he'd always offer to play catch or watch sports with me, but I was never interested, and on the weekends he had me, this pretty much meant that he didn't watch any sports. My dad was also a band director and an accomplished musician. We bonded over music. We bonded over movies (Star Wars, primarily). We bonded over toys. My dad never forced anything on me that I wasn't interested in, and I will be forever grateful of this. I was so happy when I turned 11 because that meant 6th grade and joining the band. My dad had moved to Paris, TX because my grandmother had fallen ill, and he went to take care of her. I'd spend my summers with him from this point on. One summer in particular, we played together in the Paris (TX) Municipal Band, which was volunteer and made up mostly of band directors and college kids. Rehearsals during the week with a concert every weekend in the park. I was 14 or so. He died when I was 17. I'm 32 now. I didn't get into hoops until the early '90's, and I've only become more than marginally interested in baseball in the last 4-5 years. I have never watched a Monday Night Football game and I haven't watched the Superbowl in years, and unless its either a killer party or the Texans are involved, I probably won't ever watch either on my own. To sum up, my dad never forced anything on me and in his wisdom found innumerable ways to bond with me. Sorry about this long and rambling story. Like I said, I have issues with my parentals. Anyway. Carry on.
You know me.. and I HATEd sports until I was 12. I never wanted to go outside for anything.. suddenly, I watched March Madness once, started playing basketball at recess (where everyone was better and no one passed me the ball), starting practicing at home.. and suddenly got into the Rockets, Astros, Oilers...and it all got so out of control. Now there are few sports I don't play..
I know some pretty tough dudes who don't know anything about sports, so I seriously doubt his toughness will be an issue. My mom was the big sports fan in my family. My dad and I bonded mostly taking pictures and fishing (I don't consider that a sport). I was big into sports from an early age though. I agree completely with Hippieloser. Love your kids and support them in whatever they like and take an interest in them and what they like. Frankly, that is the mark of ANY good relationship be it parent child or just two friends.
When my son was not as interested as I thought he should be... I had to stop and realize that he was still young... Some adults need to be sure and take the time to explain the sport to their child... Kids do like to learn. Now, I also highly recommend the advice of finding something your child likes, and then spending time - giving of your own personal time - to develop that bond that only you could have. Now, s my son got a little older, began to understand what the game was about, knew how to read the names of the teams, could see the score change - and knew why, etc... well then he began to also share the time with me when I would like to watch the game... and some of the gap was bridged by me allowing him to play with his toys on the living room floor while the game was on, instead of sending him to do it in a play room or in his room only... T - I - M - E is how kids spell "love" - and spending time with them doing what interests them gains, or earns, respect for what pleases you, or entertains you... By the way, my son is 8 yrs and 1 m old... and he just began to love basketball this past (well, 2006) fall when we bought a glow in the dark basketball for like $5... So, I lowered the goal (adjustable is a must) - helped him learn to shoot... took the TIME to teach - not holler or shout at him for not "getting it" or understanding... and now he's a dribbling, pivoting, bounce passing, chest passing, spot shooting, lay-up shooting, basketball loving kid. Just spend the time - and oh, by the way - don't stop spending the time. Don't count on sports alone to raise your kids - or later, they'll hate it.
I have a 3 year old daughter and she is a girly as you can get. I mean she wants a pink barbie vanity for christmas girly. I've been trying to make her into a tomboy since she was born but with no success. However, she does like playing sports as long as its not competitive. A lot of kids that age aren't competitive and like to play in a very non structured way. My daughter likes to kick the ball, run around, and chase, but as soon as there are too many rules, she gets turned off. You have make it fun for them.
you won't get any better advice for your brother. btw, your brother doesn't have to get on a skateboard to share this interest with his son.
If my son wasnt into sports, I think that would make me upset. Ive been into sports since I can remember...played every sport, even if wasnt good at some of them. Sports and video games. If my son isnt into one and/or the other, then I think I'll just let my wife be close with him. My nephew isnt much into sports at all (4 years old). He likes to tackle and play rough, but he lacks coordination to be any good at sports. That kills my brother in law...my sister thinks his lack of coordination in sports is cute. My niece, on the other hand, is 6 years old and she has been into sports since she was 2. Very coordinated, very athletic. She plays soccer and tennis extremely well. She's a little bad ass in the making. She can also throw a tennis ball about 60 feet, which isnt bad for someone her age/size. I think. It actually looks ridiculously impressive when she throws it.
Me too. I'm a big gardener. I have a mean collection of orchids inside my house right now. Gardening is another form of farming. Farmers are tough mofo's.
You could get him into sewing. So he can mend his own stitches from the grief he gets over his sewing kit.
As Houstonians all know, Los Angeles has not had a pro football team in more than a decade. And it continues to not be that big a concern for the people there. Its having an active life in SOMETHING that matters most, more than a competitive event that involves teams and a ball. Guys might not be into football and such, but some snowboard, ride bikes, hike, ski, play volleyball, surf, "X-game", etc...and manage to retain their masculinity and live lives with a smile on their face content with who they are. Now there does appear to be a higher % of 'sissy' men in the population here And I'm speaking for THEM and not myself in all this. But who's to say where someone's happiness SHOULD be derived from? If a boy's very good with math and computers, why take him away from his strengths? Thats going to be very much what counts later in life anyways. Sorry to be all hippy and liberal about it... There's this girl at my job who for a while would aaaalways bring up her dad how he wanted her to be in spoooorts, learn to fix cars, make her a tomboy and "I'm a girrrrl I HATE playing basketball, like I'm just a GIRRRRL, dad", all airing out her issues about daddy at age 26.... And she's definitely a girly girl and shouldnt feel guilt of letting daddy down. I mean, she's very chunkily built, and her dad was probably in the right suggesting sports & they'da helped keep her slimmer, but still I mean.....
I think most So.Cal residents are okay w/o a local team because of USC's successes in the past 6 years and Lakermania during and before it.
My Dad raised me as a huge sports fan, but he never forced anything onto me. He was just as happy and supportive when I decided to be in band instead of basketball when I got to jr high. He didn’t care what I took an interest in as long as it was SOMETHING and that I gave it 100%. I think every kid has to have something he/she is interested in that sets him apart. Makes him/her feel different than the average kid. Like others have said, find out what he likes to do (as long as it’s not illegal or immoral) and take an interest in doing THAT. That being said, I will buy my son his first pair of drum sticks at 4-months and his first starter kit at 1 year. He WILL be the next Buddy Rich or I will disown him.
