My DD told me the other day that she does not want to play softball any longer. My heart is broken. Does that make me a bad father? I didn't see it coming either. First she said she wanted to think about it, then she said she is out. This from a kid who was the starting catcher last year as a first year 12U on a team of mostly '03s when she is an '04. This from a kid who was the starting 3rd base and caught about 50% of the games for her current team, hit well and was by all accounts one of the best girls on the roster.
When she told me, I immediately wanted to know why, but she couldn't tell me any specific reason. She liked her coaches, loved her teammates and there was no team drama. The team also did well, winning a good percentage of their games and had plans for Colorado and sights on PGF.
When the dust settled and we could speak without her crying about it, I believe she wanted time to explore other activities and build friendships with friends from school she only had "schooltime" relationships with because they thought she was always busy with softball.
She didn't want to let me down, but she knows I am not the kind of father to push. Softball has always been about her being happy and not about my enjoyment watching her play. I am one of those dads who actually sits in the stands, cheers her and her teammates on and is otherwise pretty quiet. While we discuss the games afterwards, I always learned to keep it to a minimum and tell her how much I love to watch her play.
Have any of you experienced this and did your DDs ever decide to go back?
I am sure it's hard enough being a 12 year old girl, but when you throw softball into the mix and the need to have real relationships outside of it, I get it. I am just very sad. Softball was so much of our lives and now it's gone.
I want to do the right thing and we haven't discussed softball in the week or so since she left the team. She is not interested in rec ball or playing for another team.
I am sure the right thing to do is to wait for her to approach me if that ever happens, but I'd love to hear thoughts from the rest of you.
Thanks!
Heartbroken Softball Dad