Why I'll never cheer for my son

Parents, please: Let's all agree to stop cheering, prodding, and meddling at our kids' games

A boy playing baseball.
(Image credit: Illustrated | BabzieRogers/iStock, Digital Vision ii/Alamy Stock Photo)

A 9-year-old boy kicks at the pitcher's mound in the late innings of a Little League baseball game. His team, which includes my son — presently at shortstop, and getting antsy — is losing by an insurmountable margin. Yet the pitcher's father is on the edge of his canvas chair, screaming as though his life savings are on the line.

"Ethan! RELAX!" Then lower, more strained: "Stop looking over here!"

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Jacob Lambert

Jacob Lambert is the art director of TheWeek.com. He was previously an editor at MAD magazine, and has written and illustrated for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and The Millions.