In reply to Bruce Hooker:
So you think he would be safer with another 13 yr old trad beginner and leave them to it ?
I agree about pushy parents though. However what many of us do not get is what sets us apart from the top performers in any sport/past time and that is drive; to win, to compete or just to be the best.
What was David Beckham doing at 13 ? By his own admission all he ever did was football, football, football. Not because he was pushed into it but because for whatever reason he had an all consuming desire to be great at football.It'll be the same with the vast majority of the elite. They are prepared to put in the hard graft for the greater ( to them ) reward.
If they are pushed by parents they will not succeed as well as if they are doing it for themselves and will eventually drop out. Some kids just have that drive anyway.
Do you think Andy Murray was the product of a pushy mum ? If so now he is a millionaire why hasn't he dropped out and retired ? Same with the Williams sisters. Dad was supposed to be a harsh disciplinarian accused of pushing his daughters into something they didn't want to do and yet they keep coming back after illness and injury for more and more.
I accept climbing with its physical risks is slightly different though but there are plenty of parents who get dragged along by pushy kids.
Again i'll say we have no idea in Jim's case and so i suggest if we want to discuss this interesting topic further we start a new thread.