[Mick]

Re the helicopter part --- I think it's only natural for parents to be concerned about their kids, especially when the money for an education is seen as an "investment" and there's pressure on all sides.  I never saw eye-to-eye with my dad in the 60's, (who did?) --- but he knew I had to learn to make the right decisions for my life.  And one day years later I had to shake my head and laugh when I realized that, just as he predicted, I had become my dad.

And yeah, I sat/slept through many a high school WVB match wondering why my 5-8 daughter was 2nd or 3rd-string MB when it was pretty clear she had the athleticism to be a really good setter or DS.  But I guess that pales compared to our softball issues a few years ago.

My dad told me I was nuts for investing in my kids' club volleyball, much less the high school volleyball. The club volleyball without which the kids don't get into an Ivy. I didn't bother soliciting his opinion on the SAT/ACT instructors and the essay editors I engaged. Pops was the same guy who didn't want me to apply to the UC system in 1979 because, you know, it was $50. Too much to invest, per Pops.

Of course, in the 1970s he had six kids and managed to keep a 4 handicap playing golf both days every weekend. Someday I'm going to have to find out how my stepmother let him get away with that, when I got the stankeye from Mrs. Mick for playing golf once a year after we had kids (Work obligation. Honest.)

[Mick]

Re the helicopter part --- I think it's only natural for parents to be concerned about their kids, especially when the money for an education is seen as an "investment" and there's pressure on all sides.  I never saw eye-to-eye with my dad in the 60's, (who did?) --- but he knew I had to learn to make the right decisions for my life.  And one day years later I had to shake my head and laugh when I realized that, just as he predicted, I had become my dad.

And yeah, I sat/slept through many a high school WVB match wondering why my 5-8 daughter was 2nd or 3rd-string MB when it was pretty clear she had the athleticism to be a really good setter or DS.  But I guess that pales compared to our softball issues a few years ago.

My dad told me I was nuts for investing in my kids' club volleyball, much less the high school volleyball. The club volleyball without which the kids don't get into an Ivy. I didn't bother soliciting his opinion on the SAT/ACT instructors and the essay editors I engaged. Pops was the same guy who didn't want me to apply to the UC system in 1979 because, you know, it was $50. Too much to invest, per Pops.

Of course, in the 1970s he had six kids and managed to keep a 4 handicap playing golf both days every weekend. Someday I'm going to have to find out how my stepmother let him get away with that, when I got the stankeye from Mrs. Mick for playing golf once a year after we had kids (Work obligation. Honest.)