As it turns out, my son is quite the athlete. In addition, he is quite the leader. People tend to project leadership qualities on tall men. So I am very proud of him. No matter what a stranger says to him about his height, we (and he) knows he is more than what people see. He is a very well rounded young man, and truth be told, if he qualifies for a college scholarship of any type, I think we are all for it.

Tara Pringle Jeffersons last blog post..Reaching goals…

I often ponder my children’s future as my daughter is now 6 and my first son is 4. They play soccer and they do very well. In fact they score most of the goals on there teams. Being that we live in a predominant wife town (Wasilla AK). Yes, we live here most people make comments as to their skin color and being atlethic. However, my daughter plays piano, and is in the science club. She is actual 6 in the 2nd grade. My son the 4 year old waiting to turn 5 to go to kndergarden knows how to read and does basic addition and subtraction. They also do jujitsu.

My point is our society makes statements from stereotypes and like T. Rogers stated before we need to expose our children to more alternatives. We need to expose ourselves to more.

Your reaction is that your reaction. No one can tell you your overreacting because you understand why respond the way you do. Just let your children know the world is a great big place with much to encounter.

I don’t think you are crazy at all. You are just trying to keep your son from being put in a box. I respect that.

I think part of the problem with many black children is they are not exposed to enough alternatives. I think that is why we always hear kids saying they want to be athletes or entertainers. Unfortunately, many kids don’t know anything else. One of our many jobs as parents is to expose our children to as much as we can as far as hobbies and interest are concerned. The more options they know they have the better off they will be.

” I told him if for some reason you are blessed to be able to play basketball professionaly, you need to be able to read the damn contract”. AMEN!
As a parent we not only want them to know how to read it but understand what they are signing. I know they have ppl for that when they get a big bank account but it is usually the ppl you hire that rob you blind.

My hubby works with low-income HS kids in a precollege program. The goal is to get them to college where they will excel in their studies. I taught one workshop where this 10th grader informed me that he’s going pro so he has no use for the stuff his teachers are trying to teach him. No need for math, science is boring, he figures he doesn’t need to know how to write a coherent sentence.

My head almost exploded. Who is informing these kids that the only value in life is found on the basketball court?

Yes, taken out of context, strangers making remarks about my son’s size is probably harmless. But couple that with daily reminders about how boys are generally praised for their athletic efforts and it makes me wonder….That said, you’re entitled to think I’m just crazy and a conspiracy nut. LOL.

Tara Pringle Jeffersons last blog post..No Mom Jeans: Top 10 Young Mommy Essentials – Part 2

Maybe you are taking this just a little too seriously. I know where you are coming from. My son is just shy of his second birthday. I have heard numerous comments about his supposed athletic prowess. I don’t look at it as people trying to pigeon hole him. I just think when we see unusual size and speed in a child we automatically think of athletics. Why? Because it doesn’t take unusual size or speed to be a surgeon, but it does take unusual size and speed to be a linebacker.

I really don’t think people mean any harm by it. He may actually turn out to be a great athlete. There is nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t have to come at a cost to his intellectual development.