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The incredible challenge of being a parent-coach
As a passionate runner, I’ve been following the extraordinary journey of Jacob Ingebrigsten, who will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest runners ever (and he’s only 24).
Yesterday, I saw the news was very different from the usual coverage of Jacob’s life:
So behind Jakob’s extraordinary success is a complicated family story. It’s gloomy and we don’t know the details. Was the father violent as a person? As a coach? Probably both.
Why am I paying attention to this story?
We’re a “tennis family”. My wife coaches our kids, and she can be tough on them. She’s very tough most of the time. Hundred percent of the time. She is not “abusive” or “violent,” so how I’m connecting my family's story to the story of the Ingebrigsten brothers is unfair.
Still, I couldn’t help thinking about the challenge of being a parent—coach. My wife wants the best for our kids. She works hard. She demands excellence and discipline — every single day.
