My wife wants me to tell my son he can't try out for the football team.
By @sashakindof · Family
He's 14 and has his heart set on it. My wife is terrified of him getting a concussion or a serious injury after seeing all the reports about CTE and long-term brain damage in players.
The full story
My son is a freshman in high school and football tryouts are next week. He's been looking forward to this for years, basically. He's athletic, he's been practicing, and all his friends are trying out. I played in high school and it was a great experience for me. My wife, on the other hand, is completely against it. She's been reading a lot about the long-term neurological risks associated with football, even at the high school level. She sent me a bunch of articles and documentaries about CTE and former players who have had devastating health problems. Her point is that no sport is worth potentially sacrificing his long-term brain health. She's so worried that she told me I need to be the one to sit him down and tell him he's not allowed to play, period. I feel caught in the middle. I understand her fears completely and they are valid. But I also see how much this means to our son. I feel like taking this away from him when it's something he's so passionate about could be damaging in its own way, and could create a lot of resentment. I suggested we could ensure he has the best equipment, talk to the coaches about safety protocols, and emphasize safe tackling techniques, but for her, any risk at all is too much. She thinks I'm not taking her concerns seriously, but I think forbidding it entirely is too extreme.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 29% (38 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 44% (57 votes)
- You’re Fine — 27% (36 votes)
Readers say “It’s Complicated” (44%) — 131 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@gabelately — cooked
@gusyy — I feel like you’re downplaying her concerns a little bit, those injuries are no joke.
@judehm — The resentment this would build is way worse than any football injury. Let him play.
@willamaybe — Letting your wife control your son like that is a bad look.
@nicotbh — Is there any other sport he’s interested in playing instead?
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