Tyler's game had just begun. His parents had never missed a game. 📣

They also had never — not once — just watched the game.

This is one of the quieter harms of high-conflict coparenting: showing up physically but making the event about your conflict with each other. The scoreboard says 0-0. The parents are already in overtime.

Kids notice when their events become battlegrounds. They notice who's cheering for them versus who's performing for the audience. They notice when the tension on the sideline is louder than the whistle.

Being present means more than being there. It means being there for them. 🧡