My dad ran up and down the sidelines cheering me on and yelling at the top of his lungs. Â He didn’t know much of anything about soccer, but that didn’t stop him from being my fan. Â That taught me a valuable lesson, which I am using today.
I have never been a basketball fan. Â High school, college, NBA… doesn’t matter. Â I don’t know much about the game except the basic rules and the names of the popular teams around the nation, and of course some of the names of the more famous NBA players that most of us probably know. Â Although I did learn recently that Oklahoma City has an NBA team. Â Oklahoma City?? Who knew?
But I know more now that I ever have. I have learned that Lebron James almost had a quadruple-double in the Miami Heat – Boston Celtics series. I have also learned that Denver’s Ty Lawson is the best 3-point shooter in the NBA, according to my 12 year old.  Yet my 15 year old says that 10-time All-Star Ray Allen is actually the best 3-point shooter and will be even more deadly now that he has been traded from the Celtics to the Heat.  And don’t even get me started on the Linsanity that is going on up in the NY Knicks stands.
I have come to know and understand the intricacies of NBA basketball not because I really care that much.  I do it because my kids do. I am not sure when it happened, but we adjusted our schedule around the house to make sure that we watched the games on TV during the recent playoffs.  And now I understand why my dad screamed from the stands at my soccer games while scratching his head at times at what was happening on the field.
I think it’s important that parents invest themselves in the things that their children invest themselves in. If my kids were into comic books, I would be too. Skateboarding? Yep, I would give it my best shot. (Thank goodness they are not!) You see, I have discovered many benefits to doing this. Â I get to have conversations with my kids about things that excite them, and they know I am interested. Â So when they get excited about something, I am on the short list of those who they know will be excited too. I know what’s going on in the lives of my children, at least on some level, instead of being totally clueless about what’s going on. Â Even today I listened to some music that my kids are into, and while I can’t say I was impressed, at least I know what is being pumped through those earbuds.
I may not understand why my kids like the things that they do, and I may not like them myself. But I love my children, and I want them to know that their dad at least knows enough about it to ‘talk shop’. Â So if you’ll excuse me I have to go visit ESPN.com right now and brush up on the latest NBA free agent trades, while at the same time thank my lucky stars my kids aren’t into BMX bikes. Â That would just get ugly real quick!
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If my kid is into sports it will be easy…if he likes opera I will have some learning to do! Have to invest time in your kids interests no matter what. Enjoy years of NBA action!
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Haha! Our 10yr old Son studies Legos like kids used to study baseball cards! He isn’t satisfied with what’s on the shelf either! He likes the old collectables and the ones that aren’t sold in stores… he can tell you when they were made, what their set numbers are, what they sold for, what they’re worth now, and what they’re projected to be worth in the future! He can also tell you all about next years models, when they’ll debut, etc. He works all week for his allowance and saves every penny to buy them, (and he has a HUGE collection!)
So, I’ve went right along with him…. I watch Ebay sales for him, buy old books all about the subject, and take him to every store in town and the next when something comes out or goes on sale. It’s almost become “our” hobby and I never would have thought I’d be even remotely interested in these little pieces of plastic, ( I even have them insured now! ) I even get to be his “camera man” when he makes Youtube videos showing off one of his new purchases! We laugh when he messes up, and feel a sense of pride when one of our videos gets a lot of hits!
You’re right Steve, I’m glad that we share that. It’s a connection that’s all ours.. I love it, and I love him for it!
-Anecia Price
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It is nicae to hear of someone being involved with their children, but be caareful. I made a big mistake with my daughter. I should hve been her mother, but she wanted me to do things that she did when she was a teenager, and I did. I acted more as her friend than her mother, and it lead to trouble. I like what you say about you as a fther, and still think you are a great dad.
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There was a time that I didn’t know anything, so thank God for my daughter who was able to teach me. I know what you mean, there aren’t any words to describe their wisdom. I mean, if it weren’t for my daughter I would know nothing about Facebook or any social media for that matter. But you know, I let her teach me things I already knew, because it showed me what she was passionate about. I wound up also doing things that I actually hated doing like watching her Lacrosse games, and sitting inside a chlorinated closed pool to watch her swim varsity. But I was there, and I knew every one of her friends… I shared those moments, Now that she’s older I get to enjoy so many memories and able to reflect on the friendships she has had, the events and just about every moment of what she experienced. Oh, and I’m much smarter now too because of her. Well, not quite as smart as she is, but I’m getting there.