The Competition Heats Up - Sports Kids Moms and Dads, Episode 3 by Kristy Lussier
Karen, Karli’s mom, is obviously sad that she has to sell her daughter's horse. But she seems so overwhelmed with her own personal issues that she spaces out about her own children. When Karli and her sister arrive back from her training, and are sitting at the train station waiting for her mother to pick them up, Karen is at home potting plants. Karli later talks about her relationship with her horse, describing it like as close as having a boyfriend. She, too, is very sad about him being sold. Karli then begins talking with her mother about the training she just had, and her mom seems clueless when Karli mentions someone is interested in buying the horse. Karli gets upset because she feels that her mom is not taking this whole horse selling thing seriously, and Karen is oblivious to the affect this will have on Karli if and when it happens.
A caption opens on Sarah’s segment with “Sarah is a straight A student.” I laughed when I saw that because she misses so much school, and practices every waking hour of the day, I wonder when she has time for homework. Sarah’s brother also gives a little interview about his sister, and I’m still trying to figure out what he really thinks of her. He seems annoyed by her presence, but was trying to praise her by saying she wasn’t like all the other little annoying girls her age. Hmm. Sharon, who seems to want the best for Sarah, is too overbearing and drives me crazy. She herself is a dance teacher, but I think now and in the future she needs to find other people to teach and train Sarah, or else this will affect their relationship as Sarah grows older, I’m sure of it. The focus in this episode was on Sarah’s upcoming competition where she would be performing her first solo act.
Sarah arrives at the competition really tired and unfocused, and her cheerleading coach, Miss Nicole, gets on her case. But her team places 1st anyway. Later that night, she also places 1st for her solo jazz performance, against a girl with fruit on her head. Go figure.
Next we cut to Craig timing little Trenton running the stairs, AGAIN. He says “training is not about fun….and if you vomit, you vomit…and keep going.” God, Craig makes me want to vomit. Trenton is constantly training, when does he ever have fun?? Craig mentions that he knows people may think that Trenton’s training is too much, but then he asks us (the viewers) to find out what our eight year olds like to do, and that’s what our schedules will be too. Craig, I know plenty of parents with eight year olds. Sure, their kids play sports. But they also go to school, ride bikes, watch TV and play X-Box. Give Trenton a break! Wait until he’s in middle school, then High School, and then he’ll wish he had fun as a kid, because he’ll be training like crazy then. No coach in the NFL is going to care if your kid sprints 4 point whatever as an 8 year old. Hmmm. Continuing on…
At one of Trenton’s games, the parents of the other team become obnoxious and start screaming like lunatics at both teams during play. It is quite distracting to everyone, including Trenton. But this game is crucial, because Trenton’s team, The Bears, needs to win in order to make it to the next round in their tournament. (I believe they are vying for a Jr. National title) They did pull in a victory because, according to Craig, Trenton had 15 defensive moves that won the game for his team. Then Trenton goes to the Chiropractor (Dear Lord…) to help his body get back in line for more “football hits.” If your kid is going to the chiropractor for sports injuries and he is only 8 years old, something is wrong.
Shawn, Bryce’s dad, goes with him for some practices so Bryce doesn’t feel so nervous since his mother, Kim, is absent. Bryce feels everyone in his family “sucks” because they are too judgmental and negative towards his skating. His parents state that they pay close to $12,000 a year, and spend so much that he should be more appreciative and do better. His grandmother comes to visit and they go on a shopping spree. Bryce says he’s very into fashion and stylish, high priced clothes. Bryce, later, is still struggling through practices on his routine, but when his grandmother shows up to watch him, he seems to do much better. His coaches tell his grandmother she is welcome any time; it seems to improve Bryce’s skating. It’s clear that Bryce feels less pressure with his parents missing; his grandmother wasn’t criticizing, but clapping and cheering him on.
Lindsay admits she’s been slacking too much on her grades, and she wants to do better because she does want to play and she doesn’t want to let her team down. TJ is worried because Lindsay’s team is struggling, and has lost 4 players, including one girl who broke her arms just days before during a game. Later, Lindsay feels the pressure of the lack of teammates, and hurts her own ankle while playing. TJ gives a pep talk afterward and tells the girls that she doesn’t want the team to think that Lindsay is a ball hog just because she is the coach’s daughter. But that pressure must be there, and that worry. Lindsay is probably the most talented, strongest player on the team. Having her mom also being her coach is a bit much for a fifteen year old.
Next week: Karli and her mom have it out, and Bryce gets closer to his ultimate Jr. Nationals performance.
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