2018 Outdoor Nationals is over. Our daughter drew a hard matchup in the brackets today and was eliminated in the first round by the girl who went on to win it all.

Nothing really to report on how she did, I wasn't there. With the attitude she displayed the day before I did not want to witness it again or be on the receiving end of it.

We've got a couple of days in Williamsburg, VA before heading home. We'll have a long talk. If the choice comes down to having a relationship with my daughter or being involved in archery, I'll be walking away from archery.

Sorry to hear about the issues you're having. I'm having similar issues with my daughter. We're just back from the USSSA Fastpitch Nationals and while she played pretty well her attitude has become a problem.

"...We'll have a long talk. If the choice comes down to having a relationship with my daughter or being involved in archery, I'll be walking away from archery."

I understand that you are thinking, worrying, deciding, hoping, wishing, etc., etc., but does your " I'll" mean you or both?
Teenagers, tough calls and decisions, constantly varying as their emotions, hormones, and experiences change.
Maybe just a vacation from archery will give you some ease from pressure, before final decisions.
If Maya continues with archery, you and your wife will be there also, maybe just observing, and cheering and/or consoling. Defining a parents role in a child's activities, tough call, nothing stays the same!

I've seen similar (maybe less intense) peaks & valleys of moods in my own grand kids. Both have been in school sports rather intensely.

Competition helps them mature regardless of win/lose IMHO.

The advantages of training & discipline are resident long after whatever snit of the moment is resolved.

At times I've been unable to discern whether anxiety of not competing or fear of losing have been more prevalent.

Yeah, if we are talking about parents / children fighting over a sport and people not able to participate / watch due to attitudes, I really fail to see the benefit of it. Sure there will be occasional issues but this seems to have become more systemic the last 3-ish months or so.

You are obviously REALLY invested in this, otherwise there wouldn't be as many posts about it over the past 5-ish years. That's hard to walk away from but life is too short, especially childhood / parenthood, for that kind of drama (IMO). But maybe this is just another temporary thing which you both will get over.

I've known a bunch of successful people in my life and while most played sports at some junction, only a handful really pushed the National Level - and they really aren't any more successful that those who didn't go beyond rec sports - and none of them made money or a career out of it.

So believe it or not, Maya can have a wonderful, successful life - with or without Archery.

Enjoy Williamsburg. There's a lot to see there.

On of our most memorable kids breakdown was at "The Whaling Company" restaurant in Williamsburg. 25 years later we can smile about it but I'm not sure if they would allow us back

Tasty things in the pubs in Williamsburg. And check out the rifle making, especially the barrel making.

I’m a fan of Old Stitch Brown Ale, only available in Williamsburg. Grab one, and good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by SigJacket:
And check out the rifle making, especially the barrel making.

Found it! Actually the second place we went to after entering the park. And it's only $10k and a 2 year wait to get a custom made rifle from them.