Breaking FUD

Two Olympians were in the news yesterday, and not for their amazing skills or record shattering accomplishments. 

'I have to focus on my mental health,' says Simone Biles after withdrawing from gold medal event

Tennis star Naomi Osaka eliminated from Olympics, cites pressureTennis star Naomi Osaka eliminated from Olympics, cites pressure

What is happening to young people? These women are the cream of the crop, yet crumbling. I think social media plays a huge role in the pressure. Everyone's a critic has never been truer. Also, being a female. And both are females of color. Last night on NPR, the guest was the author of a book called, "The Revolt of the Black Athlete." Again relating the rebellion of black athletes to a larger spirit of revolt among black citizens, Edwards moves his story forward to our era of protests, boycotts, and the dramatic politicization of athletes by Black Lives Matter. Incisive yet ultimately hopeful, The Revolt of the Black Athlete is the still-essential study of the conflicts at the interface of sport, race, and society. I caught a good portion, and it was an eye opening segment.

In 1980, men's hockey had the weight of the Cold War on their shoulders as they skated against the Soviets for the win. I worry that Simone and Naomi may one day be parents, like so many of us are, and face pressure and exhaustion of a different sort. Where there are no medals. No breaks. Think about it:

When you wiped blood off your face after an autism rage, did you get to take a break?
When you cleaned up shattered drywall and broken glass, did you get to take a break?
When the your son had his 6th seizure of the day, did you get to take a break?


When school called you again to take him home, did you get to take a break?
When he was excluded from team sports because he wouldn't follow the rules, did you get to take a break?
When she wandered away and drowned in the neighbor's pond, did you get to take a break?
When his perseveration on guns and death caught the authorities' notice, did you get to take a break?
When she slept 2 hours a night for 15 years, did you get to take a break?
When his classmates covered him in a bucket of urine as a joke, did you get to take a break?
When your friends stopped inviting you to weekend events because your child was too disruptive, did you get to take a break?
When the birthday party invitations dried up, did you get to take a break?
When you wept in private after every prom, graduation, wedding, birth, did you get to take a break?
When your child became 21 and there was nothing for her to do, did you get to take a break?

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(Source: ageofautism.com; July 28, 2021; https://bit.ly/3BIlwQS)
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