My daughter dislikes being nominated for 'most improved' in basketball. Should I ask the coach to change it?
Sports"It sounds like I was the worst one before," my eleven-year-old said when I mentioned that her coach had nominated her for the basketball club's most-improved award.
I had expected her to be pleased. I immediately told her improvement was something to be proud of, and she went quiet. Later she said she likes how she plays now but doesn't want a presentation that tells everyone how bad she used to be.
The award hasn't been decided or announced. I don't know what the coach would say during the presentation, and I haven't asked what my daughter heard when she saw it given last year.
Would you first help her understand what the nomination could mean, ask the coach to explain the planned wording, or tell him she would rather not be considered? I want to take her discomfort seriously without teaching her that any label she dislikes has to be changed on the spot.