As I sit here watching college football on Saturday afternoon, I can’t help but think about my beloved Crimson Tide and how I wish that I had gone to college there. I also think about how I hope that my children someday will go to Alabama and do what I was unable to do. I have to resist the urge to push them in my desired direction. There are some things that we should have our children follow, like principles, morals, ethics, and desired behaviors. But we have to be very careful to not try and live vicariously through them. Pushing preferences like this on them is doing just that.
In my article about college fit from earlier this week, I talked about several criteria that parents and student should use together to evaluate the right college. Way, way down on the list (in fact, it doesn’t even appear on my list) would be whether we are a fan of the college or not. Sports and extracurricular activities at each college serve to enrich the college experience. Do they add to the learning environment or create success later in life – some will tell you yes but common sense will tell you no. Choose college wisely. It doesn’t mean that you or your child is any more or less a fan of your favorite team.
