They always travel and never speak. They grow from little white seeds and become electrical in thunderstorms. This is the only time they feel anything bordering emotion and so they revel in them.
Madness string 3114
Being on the sidelines is exactly what I'm talking about when I use the term 'spectator'. It's a common metaphor to describe the stages of parenting. To start, you're in the game, on the field with them. As they go into teenage years, you're the coach - helping them from the sidelines, giving them good techniques, showing them the ropes and giving them a safety net. Once they enter adulthood, you're in the stands, spectating - cheering them on and encouraging them while they play their own game unassisted. Spectating doesn't mean uninvolved - it means you're not making the decisions for them, you're supporting their decisions.