Letting Go: The Emotional Toll on Sports Parents
Explore the emotional journey of sports parents facing the end of their child's athletic career, dealing with lost dreams, identity, and moving on.
The journey of a sports parent is fraught with intense emotional highs and inevitable heartache when their child retires from sports. Rich Cohen’s article in The Atlantic delves into the bittersweet reality of this experience, capturing the deep sense of loss and the “purgatorial purposelessness” that follows when a child decides to leave the game. As Cohen reflects on his son’s decision to quit hockey, he recounts the profound bond formed through early morning practices, away games, and the shared dream of big-league success.
The story highlights the emotional role reversal where his son, the true adult in the situation, reassures his father about moving on from hockey.
The end began like this: One evening, after the last game of the high-school season, I asked my son if he’d be trying out for spring league. For a youth-hockey kid, playing spring league is the equivalent of a minor-league pitcher playing winter ball in Mexico—so necessary as a statement of intent and means of improvement that forgoing it is like giving up “the path.” Rather than a simple affirmative nod, as I’d expected, I got these words: “I’m going to think about it.” Think about it? For me, this was the same as a girlfriend saying, “We need to talk.”
Only later did I realize that those words were the first move in a careful choreography. My son wanted to quit, but in a way that would not break my heart. He also didn’t want me to rant and rave and try to talk him out of it.
We had reversed roles. He was the adult. I was the child.
This article also explores the psychological struggle of sports parents who, in living vicariously through their children's achievements, often lose sight of the present joys and pressures, leading to a negative feedback loop.
Despite the heartache, Cohen celebrates the lessons and memories his son gained from hockey, emphasizing the invaluable experiences beyond just the wins and losses. For a deeper understanding of this heartfelt journey, read the full article:
Rich Cohen
