--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But at the same time, my parents always…" description: "\"But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my brother and me to be happy with what we were doing. My parents were athletes in high school; my m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png" --- # But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my… ![“But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my brother and me to be happy with what we were doing. My parents were athletes in high school; my mom and my dad were the stars of the basketball team, but they never pushed my brother and me to be anything we didn't want to be.” quote by Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png) > “But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my brother and me to be happy with what we were doing. My parents were athletes in high school; my mom and my dad were the stars of the basketball team, but they never pushed my brother and me to be anything we didn't want to be.” [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents supported their children's happiness without imposing external expectations, encouraging authentic self‑direction. **In simple terms:** Support without pressure. Key Takeaway Value freedom to choose your own path. Themes parenting autonomy support Mood supportive thoughtful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career choice - personal growth - education decisions - mental health Key Concepts self‑determination family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does parental support shape your aspirations? - Do you feel free to pursue your passions? A Different Perspective Over‑support can lead to lack of challenge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-team/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in a house where my father encouraged my brother and me to fail. I specifically remember coming home and saying, 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blakely/i-grew-up-in-a-house-where-my-father-encouraged-my-brother-and-me-to/) [Sara Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blakely/) > [In skating or any amateur sport, as athletes we share something in common: the cost of training is quite a burden on our parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chan/in-skating-or-any-amateur-sport-as-athletes-we-share-something-in/) [Patrick Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chan/) > [My parents were athletes; they met at a track meet: they were runners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-speedman/my-parents-were-athletes-they-met-at-a-track-meet-they-were-runners/) [Scott Speedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-speedman/) > [College recruiting is a business and I would really tell parents and athletes, alike, to treat it as such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-kennedy/college-recruiting-is-a-business-and-i-would-really-tell-parents-and/) [Billy Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-kennedy/) > [My father was a big influence. He kept telling me to pursue football, always. He always encouraged me and my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riyad-mahrez/my-father-was-a-big-influence-he-kept-telling-me-to-pursue-football/) [Riyad Mahrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riyad-mahrez/) > [My dad was a keen cricketer - he played at school and club level - but it was hard for him to find time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/my-dad-was-a-keen-cricketer-he-played-at-school-and-club-level-but-it/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [My mom and dad encouraged my brother and I to travel and broaden our horizons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-andersen/my-mom-and-dad-encouraged-my-brother-and-i-to-travel-and-broaden-our/) [Morten Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-andersen/) > [Once you succeed at what you're doing, your parents see that what you were doing wasn't so bad after all, though they'd prefer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/once-you-succeed-at-what-you-re-doing-your-parents-see-that-what-you/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [The thing is, my fantasies about being a parent always involved fighting for my unpopular child, doing for her what my own parents couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/the-thing-is-my-fantasies-about-being-a-parent-always-involved/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [The only group in America that deserves to scrutinize what we are doing... are parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-valenti/the-only-group-in-america-that-deserves-to-scrutinize-what-we-are/) [Jack Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-valenti/) > [“The sad reality is, it's not just the people I go to school with that are doing it. It's their parents too. Their noses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melyssa-winchester/the-sad-reality-is-it-s-not-just-the-people-i-go-to-school-with-that/) [Melyssa Winchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melyssa-winchester/) > [We don't always know exactly what we're doing as parents. Children don't come with instruction manuals, as the saying goes. So it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/we-don-t-always-know-exactly-what-we-re-doing-as-parents-children-don/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [I had a nanny growing up in Morocco, and my parents encouraged me to put myself in her shoes sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-slimani/i-had-a-nanny-growing-up-in-morocco-and-my-parents-encouraged-me-to/) [Leila Slimani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-slimani/) > [We're not an acting family, but my parents have always encouraged me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hawes/we-re-not-an-acting-family-but-my-parents-have-always-encouraged-me/) [Keeley Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hawes/) > [My parents encouraged me in everything I ever wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/my-parents-encouraged-me-in-everything-i-ever-wanted-to-do/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) ## More by Jonathan Groff > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I'd moved to New York to pursue a career in theatre, and it's very practical how you do it - I just went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-d-moved-to-new-york-to-pursue-a-career-in-theatre-and-it-s-very/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [While I was in high school, I saw Sutton Foster in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' and she was the one that was most inspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/while-i-was-in-high-school-i-saw-sutton-foster-in-thoroughly-modern/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved 'Weekend,' and it meant a lot to me when I saw it in the movie theater. I think 'Looking' feels more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-weekend-and-it-meant-a-lot-to-me-when-i-saw-it-in-the-movie/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Coming out, for me, was slightly painful. It was a relief, but it was also painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/coming-out-for-me-was-slightly-painful-it-was-a-relief-but-it-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I never look at myself online, and I don't read gossip Web sites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-never-look-at-myself-online-and-i-don-t-read-gossip-web-sites/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I would say 'Looking' and 'Spring Awakening' are the most important and personal projects I've ever been apart of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-would-say-looking-and-spring-awakening-are-the-most-important-and/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [The hardest I've ever laughed was with Lea Michele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/the-hardest-i-ve-ever-laughed-was-with-lea-michele/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Dating can be painful, can be great, can be confusing, can be weird, but I don't do it online because I'm not really an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/dating-can-be-painful-can-be-great-can-be-confusing-can-be-weird-but/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved traditional musical comedy. That was my passion. Then 'Spring Awakening' happened, and it took that rock n' roll and pop music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-traditional-musical-comedy-that-was-my-passion-then-spring/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I feel like certainly there are people expecting 'Looking' to be representative of everyone that's gay, the entire gay community. And it's a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-feel-like-certainly-there-are-people-expecting-looking-to-be/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [It's so awesome to be a part of something that is successful not because there's a famous person in it or because it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/it-s-so-awesome-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-is-successful-not/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was doing 'Spring Awakening' the first couple of years I was living in New York, I was gay, and I was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-doing-spring-awakening-the-first-couple-of-years-i-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-college-but-i-deferred-my/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) [Explore all 117 Jonathan Groff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my brother and me to be happy with what we were doing. My parents were athletes in high school; my mom and my dad were the stars of the basketball team, but they never pushed my brother and me to be anything we didn't want to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Groff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-encouraged-my-brother-and-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-encouraged-my-brother-and-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/jonathan-groff-4035_athlete_but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-e_783224.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But at the same time, my parents always encouraged my brother and me to be happy with what we were doing. My…” — Jonathan Groff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Groff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But at the same time, my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-encouraged-my-brother-and-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/but-at-the-same-time-my-parents-always-encouraged-my-brother-and-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```