
Q As a pediatric pulmonologist, I treat quite a few children and adolescents who have exercise-induced asthma and other causes of exercise limitation. The younger children often are reluctant to talk about their experiences with sports, but their parents enthusiastically carry the conversation. In many instances, I have noticed that, when sports are involved, a parent's enthusiasm can go well beyond the usual parental pride. Such parents actually seem far more interested and invested in the sport than the child is. The child may even appear weary and disinterested when the subject comes up.