New Year's Resolution

So far this year I've kept my resolution not to choke a fellow soccer parent who yells critical BS at my kid during matches. Of course, it's been easier than it will be once the team starts playing again.

This person yells some positive stuff too, but will intersperse moronic negative critiques along the way. It's not just my kid, but it's the stuff she says about my kid that I remember.

At the end of the fall, my kid did get some payback. Just as this parent was bellowing a disappointed "AWWWW, GERTRUDE!"* after my kid had had taken a long shot, the ball hit the back of the net. There was a pause, and then a lame, Valley-Girl "Good job!"

Stuff it, lady!

(*My kid is not actually named Gertrude)

If you want to stick with your New Year's Resolution, you should consider sitting further away from this woman during games. This woman isn't going to stop and you're not going to miraculously cease to be offended by her. Just move away far enough that you can't hear her talk.

Some parents can't control their mouths and this woman sounds like a good example of that. If she's been doing this for a while, and nobody has addressed this with her yet, then it has been deemed acceptable by the other parents.

The safest bet for you is to just quietly scoot away when the game starts. This situation is only going to get worse if you stay there. If you stay there next to her during games, and this eventually boils into a problem, the next bad situation is going to be your fault.

P.S. Love the name "Gertrude". You should definitely have your DD's name changed to that.

Or you sit right next to them! I find that makes them think twice before coaching or critiquing my daughter.

How about this. Critiqueing is coaching. You go to the coach and remind him that it is he who is paid to coach and you insist that the coaching from the other sideline stop.

my2cents wrote:How about this. Critiqueing is coaching. You go to the coach and remind him that it is he who is paid to coach and you insist that the coaching from the other sideline stop.

ugg no kidding. i think it is a breach of courtesy telling anyone elses kid what to do. i also hate seeing the dad who is a dentist or accountant in real life but coached a rec team take on himself to telling players what to do. ridiculous

silentparent wrote:

my2cents wrote:How about this. Critiqueing is coaching. You go to the coach and remind him that it is he who is paid to coach and you insist that the coaching from the other sideline stop.

ugg no kidding. i think it is a breach of courtesy telling anyone elses kid what to do. i also hate seeing the dad who is a dentist or accountant in real life but coached a rec team take on himself to telling players what to do. ridiculous

You're both absolutely right--no one but your daughter's coach should be telling her what to do on the field.

On the other hand, I can't help but watch my daughter's matches critically. I am getting better at cheering the good plays while keeping my mouth shut about the poor ones. But the next time I hear a parent scream "Big kick!" or "Great kick!" for their daughter's lofted ball to nobody or "Shoot!" to their daughter picking up the ball 40 yards from goal, my head might just explode.

If you really want to stir things up start yelling at their kid and make nasty remarks when they screw up. It may get the point across that yelling at another kid is not cool, but then again my guess is the parent you are talking about would not see what they are doing is wrong and get extremely pissed off at you. Either way at least it would be entertaining.

P.S. I agree with bigtex on changing the DD's name to Gertrude. I can guarantee she would be the only one at her school with that name.

after a comment by the offending parent announce to the sideline ' ______ If you want to coach my kid you're going to have to sit on the other side of the field." the other parents will appreciate it too.

If that doesnt work, make a comment to the coach that your dd is getting conflicting coaching from one of the parents on the sideline and you would appreciate it if he would have a word with her....

cougarhunter wrote:If you really want to stir things up start yelling at their kid and make nasty remarks when they screw up. It may get the point across that yelling at another kid is not cool, but then again my guess is the parent you are talking about would not see what they are doing is wrong and get extremely pissed off at you. Either way at least it would be entertaining.

P.S. I agree with bigtex on changing the DD's name to Gertrude. I can guarantee she would be the only one at her school with that name.

I am normaly not an advocate of solving issues like this with violence but I think this is an exception. I think an old fashion beat down is definitely in order here...... for anyone who would name their kid Gertrude.

my2cents wrote:

cougarhunter wrote:If you really want to stir things up start yelling at their kid and make nasty remarks when they screw up. It may get the point across that yelling at another kid is not cool, but then again my guess is the parent you are talking about would not see what they are doing is wrong and get extremely pissed off at you. Either way at least it would be entertaining.

P.S. I agree with bigtex on changing the DD's name to Gertrude. I can guarantee she would be the only one at her school with that name.

I am normaly not an advocate of solving issues like this with violence but I think this is an exception. I think an old fashion beat down is definitely in order here...... for anyone who would name their kid Gertrude.

nah, you're still mad that they named you Sue.......

Some situations call for taking the high ground. Others mean being politically correct. This one can easily be remedied by being absolutely direct. Look the woman straight in the eyes and say:

"Never, EVER, make another comment to my child while she is on the field!"

I used this line on an annoying soccer dad one time who exhibited the same problem with keeping his mouth shut about kids while they were playing. A single statement was all it took. It's not as though I liked the guy anyway, so what bridge did I burn?

And you are Xara after all...lol