Earlier in this thread, it was mentioned that some parents are always telling their kids that they are special, that they are one of a kind, that they are the best, yada yada yada, .. even if they are really just average.
Which only promotes an egotistical self illusion.
I have been coaching for ~20 years now, so I have seen many things change, many things come and go over the years.
Let me tell you something that I just am starting to see, which blew me away.
I have one boy on my team whose Dad is about 5'8", and I can tell his parents told him how awesome he is, because he thinks he is awesome and was this great athlete, and college material in football. He will tell you all about it.
The Mom dresses and struts around like she is a '10' when she is more like a '4'. (no offense) I am sure her parents always told her she was beautiful and perfect.
Now here is the part that caught me off-guard. Their son is just like them, very average. He is a great kid who is just like they are, .. the spitting image of them, which is neat I think.
But since he is not "special" like their parents told them they were, or he is not "perfect" like their parents must have told them they were, or "one of a kind" like they think they are, .. they cut him down, always point out his weaknesses, and are generally always telling me how he comes up short.
Their self illusion / delusion of themselves has caused them to think he does not measure up, .. when he is just like they are.
I did not see that coming.
But it may be something that is starting with the generation that was always told that they were special and perfect and grew up believing it. They think they are perfect and wonderful, .. and the kid can't measure up to that. But neither do they actually.
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