The "I" Problem
- MOTOMOM
- Nov 17
- 3 min read
You know what grinds my gears harder than a kid dumping the clutch on a cold engine?
Parents running their kid’s “athlete” page and writing in first person like their eight-year-old is out here journaling about grit, emotional resilience, and throttle finesse with the tone of a Race Day Live veteran.
Yeah. That.
And listen… before anyone gets offended... I did it too.
Bless. My. Heart.
Looking back now, that content reads like a parody account. As the kids say - "Ew, cringe."
But let’s take it up to a level that feels just gross to observe.
The moment it truly jumps from “awkward” to “please make it stop” is when two dads are commenting back and forth... on behalf of their kids... in character.
“Ya almost got me in Moto 1!”
“Thanks bro, caught you in the whoops!”
Good sirs.
Your children still need help opening their Go-Gurt and can’t even buckle their baby Fox boots.
Now, here’s where I put my professional hat on; because shockingly, this isn’t just a moto mom rant that folks have come to know. Since I happen to have actual experience with athlete representation, agency management, and about a decade and a half of marketing strategy under my belt… let me give the advice I wish someone gave me early on:
If your kid is too young to manage their own brand, then stop pretending they are.
Again: If your kid isn't speaking and typing with the PR prowess needed to run a professionally managed account, don't fake it.
There is nothing wrong with a parent managing the account. In fact - most should if you're actually trying to take your kids sport at that level of seriousness.
But if you’re the one behind the wheel on the iPhone but not behind the bars of the race bike...
Say that.
Own the role.
From a branding and sponsorship standpoint, authenticity and transparency matter more than ever. When a sponsor is evaluating a young athlete, they’re not just looking at lap times.
They are looking at:
• Who is handling communication
• Whether expectations will actually be delivered
• How professional and consistent the brand voice is
• Whether the family can represent their company with clarity and maturity
A nine-year-old is not writing polished gear reviews, brand shoutouts, or race recaps.
Everyone knows that.
So instead of pretending, choose a lane:
Option 1: Parent Voice
“Proud of how MotoKid handled the track today. We learned X, we improved Y, and we’re hungry for the next gate drop.” But be mindful of using the we voice too often - unless you’re actually riding on the back of that supermini, remember who’s twisting the throttle and who’s actually towing the trailer.
Option 2: Full Corporate
“Race Recap: Moto 1 P3, Moto 2 P2. Confidence improving. Special thanks to sponsors and supporters.”
Both read with credibility.
Pretending little Jumpin’ Juniper typed it herself reads like satire to anyone outside the family bubble. It’s the social media equivalent of casing a massive double, bouncing off the landing, almost going over the bars, and then whipping your head around to see if anyone noticed. Sure - the stands might cheer. But sometimes they’re clapping out of second-hand embarrassment, not admiration.
Why this type of social account voice matters:
• It builds trust with sponsors
• It protects your kid’s voice and autonomy
• It creates a brand that can evolve with them - instead of cringe they have to delete later
Then, when they are finally old enough - mentally, emotionally, and developmentally to take over the account it will be theirs. Not a character you wrote for them (that they might never measure up to or even aspire to be).
At the end of the day, we all want to raise confident, respected riders - not tiny influencers reading off scripts.
So manage the account.
Guide the brand.
Be the advocate.
But for the love of the racing gods…
Stop pretending your eleven-year-old is out here typing motivational quotes and race analytics like they’re getting ready to host Supercross Live.
When they’re ready, let them speak.
And trust me - it won’t sound like dad at all.
See ya Sunday,
MotoMom Court
Absolutely love it, I thought when I first started the page to write as the boys because it's my husband and son. Decided against it and wrote like a was a team manager.