I have to step in here and defend Lorena

On a busy Monday morning, I have to stop for a few minutes and put some thoughts down (up?) about Lorena Ochoa.

I've seen too many things written about her in a critical light, and I think it's getting to be a little much. As a (former?) athlete and mother, I have to weigh in.

While I agree that it is not a good thing for the LPGA that she decided to retire, saving the LPGA is not her responsibility. Sure, she could choose to take that on and try to revive the struggling league, but she is not obligated to do so.

It is her choice. And it is not an easy decision.

Being a professional athlete is a selfish endeavor. It has to be that way if you're going to succeed at the high level Ochoa has. It means traveling often and for long periods, hours of practice every day, sacrificing family and social outings, and being in the public eye.

Sound like an ideal situation for your loved ones, whether you're a man or a woman? Maybe not. While there are plenty of professional female AND male athletes that make it work, ask any of them if it is easy and let me know what they say. It is not.

As a mother, it doesn't matter if your husband or partner is willing to take over the role of primary caregiver - that will still be a hard thing for you to accept. Not you, you say? Just wait until you have a child of your own. When it is your child, it is a whole new ball game. It is natural for the mother to want to be the primary caregiver - we carry the baby for 9 months and then deliver it and are the ONLY ones who can feed that baby with our bodies (should we so choose). Thus, it is natural for us to feel the need to nurture our children. It is natural to feel that we are best fit to do so. I have to consciously remind myself to step back and let daddy put our daughter to bed even though I think I'd do a better job, just like I have to step back and stop micromanaging people I work with sometimes.

Does that mean I think all moms should quit their career once they're ready to have kids so they can stay home and nurture them? Don't be silly, I have an 11-month-old and my career is full speed ahead. Jason and I manage to strike a balance between Jaelyn and each of our careers, as do many couples. But, it's not for everyone.

If Lorena Ochoa simply sees golf as a game, a sport, something she was good at but that's it, and she sees starting a family as what she really wants in life, that is her choice. Some athletes just see it as a game. Others see it as their life. Some once saw it as their life and become burnt out on all the politics or pressure or just simply lose the passion for it. Kudos to Ochoa for recognizing that it is time for her to move on to the next chapter in her life, if that's what she wants. She is a grown woman with the right to that decision, thankfully, after years of women only having one choice.

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• Filed Under:  
• Golf, Sports, SportsPLUS, Family/Parenting, OpEd

• Tags:
• LPGA
• retirement
• family
• Lorena Ochoa
• children
• motherhood
• work life balance

This post is related to the following ongoing stories:

• Lorena Ochoa retirement