"So did you want to come and get your son?"

[AlCzervik]

My poor neighbor kid, he's the little brother of a 14 year old super star soccer player and he himself doesn't play but his parents are all the time with the soccer this and soccer that. So i invite him to go to the movies with my daughter and I today and he's all excited because that means no going to his sisters soccer party, anyhow his moms says "We'll pick him at 4:00pm ok" yup, fine by me, so now it's past 5:30 and he's asked me about 6 times "when is my Mom coming to get me" well i call old Mom she says "Oh, I'm sorry we just got caught up in all the fun, i'll be over to get him no later than 7:00 ok?"---"O'clock?, he's feeling a little hurt and he was worried something happened to you, can't you get here any sooner or better yet why don't you talk to him?" so she says "Oh he can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes. he's fine, we'll see you at 7:00"

And then she fucking hung up! WTF?? He's a good kid, he's been friends with my daughter since we moved in 5 years ago and i've watched how his sister's star has risen in the eyes of her parents but he's kind of nowhere. I feel really bad for him and i feel like kicking his mother's ass. When he's estranged from them 10 years from now i wont be surprised at all.

[deadparrot]

1. Poor kid.

That's akways such a sad situation. Hope everything in his life ends up well. :(

[Left Is Write]

2. Oh, that poor child.

I can only imagine how he feels - left out, forgotten, not as important.

Thank you for being there for him.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. :^( Thank heavens he has you! *hugs*

[Don Claybrook]

4. Don't let on to the kid about his asshole parents

I'm sure he'll find out in due course, but no need for you to inadvertantly contribute to that. Let him kick back at your place until 7 (or whenever) and feel relaxed, important, wanted.

[AlCzervik]

5. yeah i wouldn't dare say anything to him about his Mom

unless it was nice. I dont mind him being here at all infact he's having dinner with us but he was actually worried about them and then he figured out right quick that thet were goning to be late.

[MuseRider]

6. Spend the rest of

the time telling him how good he is and how much you like having him around. It sounds like the poor guy could use that. Poor, poor kid.

[AlCzervik]

7. yeah, he's really nice kid, he comes over and tells us *really* bad jokes

right now they're playing Crash Bandicoot on the playstation and having a good time.

[MuseRider]

11. You are so kind.

It is often hard when this happens, it used to happen to me on occasion. I always felt so bad for the kid, how must he feel?

He sounds like a good kid. Good for you for helping him out. :hug:

[Placebo]

8. Don't worry.

He'll grow up to be a rock star, or a billionaire software developer, or an artist, while his "superstar" sis is stuck in the mid-life doldrums of the suburbs popping out children, watching her waist grow bigger, and locked into a job she secretly hates. :)

[AlCzervik]

9. thats funny cuz my husband said almost the same thing

he's away on business and he called, i tell him whats going on and he says "Well isn't just typical"

[LisaL]

18. Well, HTF do you know?

What, woman is only good for popping out children? No way she can have a bright future?
:spank:

[Placebo]

20. lol, did I say that?

no

:spank:

[LisaL]

25. Why, yes, you did. I fail to see any reason you think

she will be stuck at the job she hates and keep popping out children, while her brother will be a success, except she is a female and he is a male. If not, exactly why did you think the best she can hope for is popping out children?

[Placebo]

26. Actually...

when I originally wrote that post, I had thought I read in the thread-starter that the boy in question had an older brother and sister, who were both soccer stars, and so I had to edit out the parts referring to "he and she" to just "she". So it's nothing against the female because she's a female, it's just the worst thing I could think of to say about someone in order to lift the poor boy up. :hi:

[LisaL]

32. I don't feel the need to lift one child up in expense of another.

It's obviously the parents that are in the wrong, not the children.

[tanyev]

41. I thought the poster meant that the soccer star

may be peaking too early, especially if she is being pushed by her parents. Think of all the star football players in high school that never went any further and spend what could be the best years of their life drinking beer and reliving the "glory days" of high school.

[xmas74]

28. I think that he meant it as the "wanted" child tends to

be the one who is less successful. You listen to interviews w/ most artists, entertainers, etc and they will many times say that they did not excel at much of anything in their youth. Some will even admit to being a disappointment to their families.
If it had been a girl he probably would have made the same comment.

[LisaL]

33. Well, I don't know about that. I believe many sports stars

started really young and their parents really pushed them along the way.
I have many examples of that.

[xmas74]

34. And most children who are pushed into sports will

never become pro. The odds are against them.
To get back to this post, what they are doing is wrong. The are giving all of their attention to one child and making the other feel unwanted. As to the sports star, the overload of encouragement that seems to come from just playing sports is also wrong. You encourage them to do what they enjoy but you should also show a sense of pride over accomplishments.
The op stated that the parents talk about sports. What else does this young girl do? Is she good in school? Does she volunteer her time in her community? Does she do anything else besides soccer?
I have a child. I am raising her to be a well-rounded person. She is involved in sports. She is involved in Girl Scouts. She helps collect cans for our local food pantry. She takes Highland Dance. She is deciding on an instrument to learn to play (I'm secretly hoping for a brass instrument so I can begin her lessons early since that is what I play but I will encourage her w/ whatever she picks). And she is encouraged to do well in school.
I was an athlete. I was considered to be a very good athlete. (I was in cross country and track). My parents expected me to do more. They taught me that athletics is not the only thing in this world. I also did band (I played a number of instruments), forensics, volunteerism, Top 10 in my class, NHS, drill team (for one season), basketball, student council, drama, AFS, FTA, I was a Senior Girl Scout-and the list goes on. Sports were not the only area that I concentrated in. I learned something from everything that I did. And my younger brother was encouraged to do exactly the same.

[oldcoot]

38. She may not be allowed to do anything else

Her parents might be afraid that other activities will detract from soccer. When I read or hear about parents like this, I wonder if they are trying to live vicariously through their children.

[xmas74]

45. Exactly.

And that attitude will be extremely damaging to her in the long run.

[MountainLaurel]

35. That's what happens to most child athletes

They'll be 30 and working at Wal-Mart, having blown their knee out in college, talking about the glory days when they were 15 and in the state championships.

[LisaL]

40. Maybe so, but it's stupid to wish it onto this girl just because

her parents pay more attention to her than to her brother.

[kick-ass-bob]

42. OMFG.

If it was an older boy, he would have said something similar - except for the popping kids part.

Good God, not everyone is out to get you.

:eyes:

[Bunny]

10. They "got caught up in all the fun"? He's "a bit of a drama queen"?

What ignorant asses. :grr:

[AlCzervik]

12. aint that something? Calliing her son a drama queen?

Everytime i talk to her on the phone she complains of a "Terrible migraine" and claims she's so tired and just can't do anything at all but the next day i'll see her she's been at the mall shopping.

[tjwash]

13. Actually, he will probably turn out as a better adjusted adult...

...then the other one. Speaking as someone who went through much the same, I must say that I never expected a free ride in my life from growing up like that. For me life started as an adult. My two brothers, are both in their late forties and still love to talk about their boring ass "glory days" stories.

I kind of feel for the soccer superstar myself, she has no clue what the real world has in store for her, and is probably in for a shaky adulthood, when mommy isn't their to protect and coddle her.

The world is chocked full of losers that hit their peaks in their teens, and life just seems to go downhill for them from that point.

[left is right]

14. Your actions toward a forgotten child demonstrates

why I like coming here. For the most part, people on this board are kind, compassionate individuals who make a genuine difference in life.

[Left Is Write]

16. Hey! I like your user name.

:)

[left is right]

27. Thank you

I maintain that the wingers garner a fair amount of esteem simply because "Right" equals "correct". I am unwilling to allow them exclusive claim to rightness or righteousness

[Left Is Write]

43. Well, that...

and that is sounds just like my user name. :D

[faithnotgreed]

17. exactly.. and were glad youre here too. we need all the kind compassionate

people we can get together in this world

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. Thank goodness that little boy has you for his neighbor!

I was just feeling so terrible that he's being ignored by his parents. I also think that you are handling the situation PERFECTLY. He'll get so much positive reinforcement from being with you and your daughter...very cool of you to take such good care of him.
Another cool Californian! Whereabouts in the state are you? NoCal, SoCal, or somewhere else?

:hi:


:yourock:

[mac56]

19. I agree. Bless your heart.

He'll remember you all of his life.

[eyepaddle]

29. I just want to say you are really cool folks to do this.

I think I've also heard that younger children often wind up pursuing less typical hobbies/sports. I think we can see why. (I read that in Shermer's "Why people believe weird things")

So if he gets some positive energy from someplace who knows where he might go?

Best wishes to all concerned.

On edit: Hi CaliforniaPeggy, I can't belive I repsonded to the wrong post!

On the plus side it's good to say hi to you! :hi:

Oh yeah, I hit my kayak roll tonight like five times!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

30. Hey, eyepaddle! I don't mind your answering the wrong post...

so did the other poster just before you...!

And it is likewise good to say hi to you! :hi:

Congrats on doing a kayak roll five times! I would have drowned, probably...:yourock:

[Arugula Latte]

21. Besides the horrible parenting skills

it is so incredibly RUDE to leave a child in another's care for three hours over the agreed upon pick-up time. That is fucking inexcusable. I would be furious. If you have it in you, please say something to this miserable bitch.

[oldcoot]

39. Someone should buy these "parents" an etiquette book

as well as a parenting book.

[JimmyJazz]

22. Sometimes, I just don't know where to begin.

I think that's great that you and your family are giving the child some much needed attention. You know I already think you are wonderful anyway :hug:

Beyond that, I have too much to say and not enough space to say it - so I'll keep my opinions to myself. :mad:

[AlCzervik]

23. you're such a sweetie. Hope all is well with you

She's still not here yet but my neighbor kids now knows the joy of orzo with butter and romano cheese.

[Left Is Write]

24. I would like to know the joy of orzo with butter and romano cheese.

[BiggJawn]

31. Get some revenge on his Yupster 'Rents...

Show him "Breaking Away" or "A Sunday in Hell" and if he like those, introduce him to a cycling coach....
:evilgrin:

[GalleryGod]

36. Maybe She'll be on the New Bravo Network Show?

Total asswipe!
I've been through this a lot-since my stepdaughter was on a never-ending roadtip through the Tri-State area with AAU Basketball.

She get's the "Asswipe Award",however, for the way she treated YOU!

I'd give her Cold & Curt for about 2 weeks, FWIW.

[GOPBasher]

37. Poor kid.

:cry:

But what you're doing is really good. :-)

[sundog]

44. aww

:(

thanks for being good to that young soul, ms. chimpsrsmarter :hug: