One lesson we all learn as parents is you can’t get the time with your kids back, so cherish what’s in front of you. That goes for everything from the mundane moments, like driving your kid to school to the monumental ones, like graduation. No, we don’t have to enjoy every moment, but being present is a whole lot better than the regret of absence.

Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora is one dad who isn’t apologizing for choosing to be present at his daughter’s college graduation—even if he is facing criticism for it.

A Dad Is a Dad, First

Cora skipped the May 19, 2025 game between the Red Sox and New York Mets at Fenway Park in Boston, to attend his daughter Camila’s graduation ceremony at Boston College.

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Though the Red Sox won that game, Cora’s decision was heavily criticized in the local media. Some said he could’ve managed his schedule to be present at both the graduation and the game, since both were in Boston.

According to the Boston Herald, one prominent Boston radio personality claimed it was bad leadership optics for Cora to not be with the team and that he should’ve sent the message that “nothing’s more important than tonight’s game.”

When facing questions during a recent press conference about why he didn’t just “rush out” of the graduation, Cora responded with, “She [Camila] wanted me to be with her. It was her day, so this is secondary.”

That should’ve been enough said, but Cora explained his position further, saying, “You know, we’re in this world for a purpose, right, and for me, it’s to raise her. We try to do the best we can. Obviously it wasn’t perfect, but right now, it’s perfect…I wasn’t going to miss it. The whole day.”

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When asked about the criticism he faced, Cora didn’t complain, nor did he apologize for his decision.

“People have their own opinions. I bet those people have families too, and at one point, they’ll have to make decisions too. And I bet they make decisions for the best of the family. I made the best decision for my daughter. For those who don’t understand, I’m not going to try to convince them.”

Cora is also dad to twin sons Xander Gabriel and Isander Manuel, 8, whom he shares with his fiancée Angelica Feliciano. His daughter Camila is from his previous marriage with Nilda Cora, as well as his stepson, Jeriel Cora.

Decisions Are Always the MVP

Despite the initial backlash from those in sports media or others who thought Cora should’ve made a different choice, many are celebrating how he walked the walk as a dad. A number of fans and other observers have taken to social media to point out how there are over 100 professional baseball games played every year and only one of your kid’s graduations. Some decisions aren’t as hard as they appear to be on the surface.

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As we often see with prominent figures in sports or entertainment, it can be easy to forget that a lot of them are parents just like the rest of us, which means their professions aren’t always at the top of their priorities list.

But saying what’s important isn’t as impactful as aligning your decisions with it. And at the end of the day, we and our kids will remember what we chose to do.

Read the original article on Parents