When kids dedicate themselves to a sport, it often comes with many social sacrifices. Whether it leads them to homeschooling or traveling for weekends at a time - in all case scenarios they give some other part of their average life up such as going to late movies, attending birthday parties or trick or treating on the weekend of Halloween. At the time each of these events seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity and the parents and the sport take the role of bad guy and "punisher" when kids are told they can't be like their school friends. Matter of fact is that these are sacrifices that are not pin pointed at one kid here or there, they are shared by all kids pursuing tennis or anything else with high goals in mind. In most cases missing holidays is unavoidable due to the fact that most tournaments are hosted during and around holidays because those days allow kids to travel without missing school. After all, it builds character. Reasonable sacrifice is a necessary ingredient to being really good at what you do, another ingredient is having demanding parents.
I know from personal experience and talking to many players who went from junior to pro in the past 10 years, that of course you regret missing your ordinary could be life, but you find your social life on that tennis circuit and if you make it big one day, the sky is the limit for the attention you receive, parties you attend and cakes you are baked. Still doesn't mean you'll be at home, but at that point you're one experience will top the other.
Just yesterday Ana Ivanovic turned 21, during the Sony Ericsson in Doha and the sponsors threw her a birthday party. Still on the road and I am sure with limitations due to her tennis schedule but the attention and press it garnered must have been a pleasant surprise. Too bad she got sick and pulled out of the tournament. Check out her cool Babolat looking cake!
Check out Halloween Serena Williams style from her blog:
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