You Can’t Handle the Truth!

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Most parents will remember this famous line delivered by Jack Nicholson’s character (Colonel Nathan Jessup) in the classic movie, “A Few Good Men.” The title for this blog is apropos because it represents my own inability as a parent to “handle the truth” which I think was a very good learning experience for me, and it may be for other parents as well that are reading this. Let me explain further…

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I have young children (two daughters with a third child on the way). My oldest daughter just finished the first grade and this year was our first experience with “report cards.” The school my daughter attends does an outstanding job providing feedback/scores to parents on very specific elements of the children’s academic performance, social and emotional intelligence skills, and also their work habits. In addition, they also provide a written dialogue on each subject that gives you further insight into your child’s performance (both positive and where there are areas for improvement). In some ways, it is very similar to what I think Baseball Factory does for our baseball players. Namely, we give players/parents a very good idea of where they stand nationwide and how the players can continue to improve upon their weaknesses.

I should preface my comments by saying that overall my child did very well on her assessment. But just like every child, she had a few “areas to work on.” What I realized is that when you receive this type of feedback as a parent, it becomes a very interesting “moment of truth” for the parent. How are you going to respond to hearing that your child isn’t the best at something and needs improvement? Are you going to blame other people? Are you going to blame the system? Yourself?

For me, my initial reaction had my ego getting the best of me. Clearly (I believed) there must be something incorrect with how she is being taught, right? Maybe the philosophy of the school is to blame, or better yet, the individual teachers approach. I went on for a few days, stewing inside and coming up with all kinds of theories as to why this was the case.

It took a conversation with my wife (who is wiser than me on these matters by the way) to get me to see clearly. Maybe our daughter is exactly where she needs to be right now? Maybe it is a blessing that we are getting this information and we should focus on giving her the support she needs, and not look to assess misdirected blame? Maybe it is wonderful as parents to have her in a school where she is getting such clear feedback and the support to improve in certain areas? And maybe, just maybe, this is happening to you as a parent so you can see the other side (as your Baseball Factory parents see) when your company delivers “feedback” on their son’s baseball ability so you can understand how they feel? It is amazing how your whole outlook can change when you look at something with a clearer perspective like this.

I think this experience will certainly help me to “handle the truth” in the future, when it comes to my kids. As parents, we just want what is best for our kids (more than anything) and it takes a level head and an honest set of eyes to have the right perspective.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm Baseball Factory and Team One Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.