Sunday Morning Musings: When Athletes Create Parenting Challenges

NEW ENGLAND Patriots Wallpaper (Photo credit: Axel.Foley)

I’m a football fan. So naturally, I’ve followed the shocking events surrounding former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. I’m fortunate because Little A is too young to know what’s going on. Daddy get’s a reprieve from having to explain.

I will give some kudos to the Patriots’ organization. On July 6th and 7th, fans can exchange their Hernandez jerseys at the Patriots’ Pro Shop. They understand children won’t fully grasp the meaning, but parents do.

As an avid sports fan, I’m guilty of undue hero-worship when it comes to professional athletes. Media, and the athletes themselves have successfully sold us on how great these individuals are. In the end, they are only human and they are doing what they do as a form of entertainment.

Athletes are not heroes for their on-field accomplishments. This is a point that I will stress to my son (if he’s even into sports), and I think this is a point that many parents need to make to their kids. We see the money, the fame, the mansions, and naturally many of us say we want that for our kids.

I still scratch my head over the Hernandez situation. I fear I will have to explain situations like this to my son. Not because he shouldn’t know, this is the world in which we live; but, because this isn’t the way the world should be.

My thoughts are with the innocent victims in this, and all these situations. Kudos to the Patriots for their actions. Good luck to all the parents who have to explain this one.

Related articles

• Aaron Hernandez Merchandise Pulled From Store Shelves (houston.cbslocal.com)
• Aaron Hernandez Charged with Murder; Legal Woes Becoming an Epidemic Among Athletes (snarksprts.com)
• The Aaron Hernandez Saga-Where Did Things Go Wrong? (tampa.cbslocal.com)

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