The Car Ride Home: How Parents Shape Their Athlete’s Mindset

Your kid won’t remember the score. They’ll remember the car ride home.

This week on Talk Midland, Logan sits down with Kelsey Gustafson, founder of The Mental Ascend, to talk about the mental side of sports — and why it matters more than most parents realize.

From 13-year-olds quitting at record rates to high-achieving athletes beating themselves up after games, Kelsey explains why confidence isn’t just a feeling — it’s built through habits, preparation, and emotional regulation.

Connect with Kelsey Gustafson:

They dive into:

• Why confidence comes from competence
• The real reason kids drop out of sports at 13
• The damage of doubling down after a bad game
• How parents can reshape the “car ride home”
• Why “better to suck than skip” builds resilience
• Mental blocks, performance anxiety, and pressure moments
• And what happens when identity becomes tied to performance

If you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or former athlete — this one will hit home.

Because when you take the jersey off, you’re still a person.

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