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flintoff did the right thing..
captaining your country is a pretty big thing.. and this is his second child.. right?
so he has experienced the whole thing b4..
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Flintoff’s decision not to be at the birth
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of March Leave a comment on this post
“There’s more to life than cricket,” is what they drum into us at Cricket Anonymous. But Andrew Flintoff has seemingly ignored it by choosing to stay with England to captain his country. There have been a few comments floating around that he’s being selfish (selfish!) and so on, which in my opinion is complete hogwash. I think he made the right decision. Yes, births are a “once in a lifetime experience” (note: I hate that expression) but equally captaining your country isn’t a regular thing either.
Please note, I’m not comparing the two situations or arguing that the birth of ones’ child is of equal importance to captaining ten other men on a cricket field. But, as he himself admitted, the situation dictated he should stay with his troops and I admire him for that. The BBC have an interesting article on the whole debate, too, here, comically describing Fathers’ attendance at the bedside as something of a spectator sport! Try telling that to the wife when she’s pushing out a 10-pounder…
Your thoughts and reasonings, please, and not just one-liners.
Tags: andrew-flintoff, birth, england, england-in-india, father, mother, rachel-flintoff, wife |
6 Responses to “Flintoff’s decision not to be at the birth”
March 2nd, 2006 at 5.30 am
March 2nd, 2006 at 10.06 am
Because of course, once you’ve seen one pop out, you’ve seen it all right?
Just because you flower up the language and we are suddenly saying “captaining your country” as if we are leading a platoon of soldiers into battle, doesnt change the fact its still a game of cricket.
March 2nd, 2006 at 10.33 am
There is nothing you can compare with having a child: it would be apples and oranges. Obviously there are other important events in life also, like reaching such a pinnacle as to captain your country. I think everyone should have the right to try to attend the birth of their child (having said that, my husband missed the birth of our first because he ducked home to have a shower - obviously bored after 17 hours of labour . . .), but if the woman is of a more practical nature, she might confess that there is not much the husband can actually do. Let’s face it, he can’t administer the drugs or anything important like that . . . So if they decide between themselves that he has a legitimate reason to miss it, then so be it. It really has to be the decision of each family, and taken on a case by case basis.
I’m speaking from experience - are you?
March 2nd, 2006 at 3.19 pm
I agree up to a point with the sentiment that ‘it’s just a game’, but it’s a game that just happens to also be this man’s job. Any kind of job has responsibilities and requires sacrifices, just different ones depending on what you’re doing. IMHO he should just suck it up and get on with what he has to do.
(I should probably point out, if that sounds harsh, that I’ve just spent a week-and-a-half with my cousin’s little horror of a two-year-old (and her five- and six-year-olds), and I really, really cannot see why people get so misty-eyed about children!)
March 2nd, 2006 at 7.58 pm
I put a post somewhere else but will add to it here. Who are we to judge? Mr and Mrs Flintoff decided between themselves - she backs him up. Rachael has been through it before, and I know from experience that the second child is easier than the first (when you have no idea what’s going to happen). I for one respect their decision.
To be honest, after giving birth twice, would have liked the option of not being there myself too 
March 13th, 2006 at 9.39 am
What difference does it make to anyone. Surely you dont think Master Flintoff preferred to be in a different country whilst his wife gave birth to their 2nd child. Come on, be real. How many men and women wish to be in a position as he is in, where your country requests the pleasure of your talent and captaincy. Nice one Rachel, you must be as strong as I am. One for the girls I say. I also say he should be under massive pressure to win this for YOU and KIDS. aaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaahahaha. Peace out. x
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