But as a mom, I have to say, sometimes it’s really difficult. I want my daughters to have a better life than I have had. I’m overweight, and I hated sports when I was a kid. I often think that if I had found a good, fun sport, maybe I would be more fit now. Your mom is right that tennis is a life-long skill.

She is probably very proud of your grades, but she’s not linking grades into sports right now.

Let’s pretend you are the mom. How would you get your kid to be more active physically? (And don’t say you wouldn’t.) Would taking a mother-daughter tennis lesson be better? Or just doing a mother-daughter walk once a day? Is there a different sport you’d rather be doing?

Everything is negotiable.

Do tell her that you want her to talk these things over with you first.

And please give the tennis lessons a try. Remember, healthy mind in a healthy body! (And tennis was one of the few sports I could actually do . . . but I didn’t try it until I was 18.)

Good luck. Don’t be too hard on your mom, but do let her know you are ready to make some decisions for yourself.

-volunteering
-tutoring
-music lessons