Showing Up: Is It Important?

At some point in a kid’s life, they usually take part in an extracurricular activity of some kind. Some parents show up to their kids’ events, and some do not. Could this hurt their child mentally? Could it lower their self-esteem throughout the game/performance? How is this affecting them? Could it not be affecting them at all? These are questions that often go unanswered.

I asked some students who do extracurricular activities at Pentucket; and some teachers who are parents as well. 

Thoughts and Opinions

Regan Breen, a sophomore at Pentucket, says, “Yes, my parents show up [for me] all the time. Even when I was injured, they still showed up. Yes, I care, because it makes the child feel cared about, and personally if they didn’t show up I would feel like not important, like a second option. Yes, because when they were children, my dad specifically- I don’t think my father’s parents showed up a lot. So I think it was important for him personally to show up.” 

Jonah Brien, a junior, says: “Yes, they show up to most if not all of them. Depending if it is a big event, I think they should. If it isn’t important they don’t have to. No, I don’t care if they show up. What I’m more focused on is what I’m doing currently.”

Emily Gleason, a senior, says: “Yeah, my parents show up. Every show if there is a rotation of about five, and they come to at least one. I do care, I think it shows that they support me. Even though theater is not something I want to do with my life, it kind of shows they care about what I’m currently doing.”

Mr. Harty, a parent who is a history teacher, says: “I show up to support them. It’s fun to watch them perform or compete, because your kids need to know that you are behind them, and that you take joy in their accomplishments. That’s the best part of being a parent, and they’re gonna grow up; the time is short. My kid probably cares about me showing up. I know I cared as a kid; I’d always look for my dad or mom in the audience.”

Mr. Soule, a teacher at Pentucket, is also a parent. He says, “I show up for him [so that he can]  learn how to make friends, for him to be a part of a group, for him to learn to listen to other adults and to learn new skills. I mean obviously to support them, to show them that you care about them, and to make them feel that they are a part of a community. He would never say he cares about me showing up, but I think he does.”

Mr. Honer, a history teacher who has two kids, says,  “I do [show up for them]. I’ll be at two of her plays, then his basketball games. My dad died when I was 7, I always wanted to really be there for my kids. I also enjoy seeing what they’re doing. Yes, they would care if I showed up. You’re showing the kids what they do matters, and you’re prioritizing your life around them.”

Overall, to have parents show up for their kids shows and sports is essential for the kids mentally. Parents showing up proves how it supports what their kids do, and it displays that parents care about how they perform.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Children and teenager’s self esteem is fragile, and the support of a parent makes a ton of difference in a young person’s life.