When Alex Rodriguez played in Major League Baseball, he was a master of the sport. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he always won. He had to face losses too, but instead of focusing on them, he chose to take away only his learnings. A-Rod has always been proud of the fact that he played ball for a career. But there is something else that beats every achievement – fatherhood.

Rodriguez has two daughters, Natasha and Ella, whom he shares with his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis. They often feature on his social media or in interviews; one can easily tell he’s a proud dad. Some of it comes from him growing up without a father himself. Rodriguez didn’t want to fail at something just because he had not had that figure to look up to in life. His daughters are now 18 and 14 respectively. In almost two decades, the former Yankee has learned some valuable lessons on parenthood that he recently shared.

Alex Rodriguez wants parents to move their focus away from winning

A-Rod is all for promoting physical activity in people right from a young age but he doesn’t want parents to force their kids. In a recent interview, the former ballplayer gave some parenting advice that he thinks people should adopt. “For the parents out there I’d say – be really thoughtful on how those conversations go after practice or after dance. It shouldn’t be like, did you win, did you get an A, did you do this?” A-Rod told Harry Stebbings.

He continued, “It should be like, what was the most enjoyable part of your day? Did you work hard? Did you prepare? Did you enjoy? It shouldn’t be about results, results, results because that creates a lot of anxiety for young people.”

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For Rodriguez, yes, it’s important to look at the big picture every once in a while. But if the kids are not enjoying their present, then what’s the point?

A-Rod reiterates the significance of the job called ‘parent’

Parenting is a curious thing. Some take it lightly but it is, in fact, one of the hardest jobs in the world. After all, what could be more challenging than raising another human being that has to become responsible for itself later on? A-Rod certainly never takes that role for granted, owing to his own experiences of childhood.

“The most important responsibility we have is raising our children. Everyone talks about fixing the world but I think it starts at home. It starts at the dinner table…95% of kids quit their sport on the ride home with their parents,” Rodriguez continued in the interview with Stebbings.

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Do you have any pearls of wisdom to share if you’re a parent or a guardian? Tell us in the comments below!