Advice for parents, as inferred from Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open Champ

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Transcript:

“I wish everyone could have my parents because they always let me choose whatever I wanted to,” Sinner told the Rod Laver Arena crowd and an enormous global TV audience.

“They never put pressure on me and I wish this freedom is possible for as many young kids as possible.”

I parent four kids, all of whom have seriously pursued or are currently pursuing competitive sports. It’s been a roller coaster — the ups and downs, the lifestyle you build around your kids’ sports, and the expense of it. I have no regrets. Sports often encapsulate the richness of life and provide a convenient outlet for channeling our energies, both good and bad.

One of the most challenging parts of the experience has been managing the relationship with my wife, who coaches tennis. Being a coach—parent is incredibly hard. You have high standards, and as a parent, you’re able to cross the boundaries you wouldn’t if you were coaching someone else’s kid. And the boundaries between sporting activities and family time are also blurred. So, it gets very intense; often, emotions fly high. I often worry about the…