The Blasian DAd

How do ya’ll get your kids out of their comfort zones? Do ya’ll let them sit around the house and figure it out themselves or do you introduce them to as many things as possible when they’re young, hoping something will grab their attention? Or do you let them follow in your footsteps and you show them your interests and see how they grasp your reality? Parenthood is weird. Fun, but weird. There’s no true “how to be a parent” book, so all of us parents out here are just wingin’ it and seeing what sticks. 

For me, sports has been and probably will always be “my thing.” Basketball was my first love, but I dabbled in other sports too. I could catch almost any football pass thrown my way. I didn’t like getting hit. I could throw a baseball from center field to home plate with ease, but I couldn’t hit the ball to save my life. I loved playing volleyball, but there wasn’t a boy’s volleyball team when I was in HS. Now, I’m into golf. The mental aspect and the self-competition is what intrigues me. 

But as a father, it’s a whole different story. As a father, we have to find the perfect button to hit for our kids to become remotely interested in something. For most of us, we have to approach new adventures and experience with a type of guidance only we know our child will appreciate, or the kid will not be interested. And I can tell you, it’s going to take quite a few tries before the kid is like “I think I like this.” My mini was into sports. Soccer at first, then basketball. When she was younger, we tried dance and gymnastics, and although there was some interest, COVID kind of knocked that down. But as parents, we have to continue to challenge our child to experience new things and not limit them to a tablet because it’s convenient. We have to continue to motivate kids to be explorers and provide the necessary support to overcome hesitations. 

So the wife and I were able to talk the mini into doing Theatre Camp. She sparked some interest in theatre when we went to see Hamilton in NYC and then Matilda at a local theatre. Camp started off shaky, but by the time camp ended and it was showtime, her confidence had increased and she was ready. All 50 of the kids in camp did a great job and the mini said that she is willing to continue this journey so let’s see if we can get a Tony Award in the house someday!

If you’re struggling getting the kids into something, don’t stop trying. Continue to encourage them to try new experiences, take risks, and learn from failures and success alike. Provide the motivation and instill a sense of courage and curiosity in them. Believe in their potential but also challenge them to exceed expectations. Help them develop a strong work ethic and believe in themselves and push past self-imposed limits. 

Let me know what you’ve done to spark different interests in your kids!

Much Love

GB

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