Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here .

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband “Trent” and I have a 14-year-old son, “Michael,” who started high school last month. Michael is attending the same high school Trent went to where he was the star of the football team. Trent has been pressuring our son to try out for football since practically the day he graduated from junior high. Michael did not try out—he’s into lacrosse—and Trent has ratcheted up the pressure, trying to convince him there’s still time for him to join (there isn’t). He’s even gone so far as to offer to buy him a car when he’s old enough to drive if he play football! Michael is really beginning to tire of his dad’s pestering, but his objections go in on

See Full Page