For a few years, my niece was one of the best setters in the state of Wyoming. That is, I realize, being a big fish in a small pond, but it gave us a taste of what it’s like to be the family of a gifted athlete. Upperclassmen viewed her largley with disdain, and their parents tended to focus on the fact that she was taking court time from their kids. My family encouraged her skill while my niece negotiated fitting in with her peers. I loved watching her play, but the drama was exhausting. It also gave me a new perspective on the complications of raising an athlete — there’s a lot more than what happens in a game.
Rockies family seated in the bleachers of social media
