Being Buster Posey — Giants’ catcher hears it from all sides

In an essay in Sunday’s New York Times, a distinguished news reporter chronicled his five-city, eight-game, eight-day venture with his two sons and called out Buster Posey for not signing an autograph for his 12-year-old, concluding the moment provided a “life lesson” for how “heroes can disappoint us.”

The wide-eyed youth getting a rare glimpse of his favorite player, and an autograph is the bonus.

On the other hand: a parent providing false hope to his kid, shoving him to the front of the scrum, trying to get the athlete’s attention and ripping him if/when he doesn’t sign.

Here’s some advice for all parents who want to push their kids in this direction:

Don’t hold a “Posey for Prez!” sign over your kid’s head when he’s seeking an autograph outside the visitors’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field following a Giants loss — as the Times reporter did two straight days.

Posey and others tend to sign for kids when their parents are at a distance.

Aside from all the pregame prep work demanded of a catcher, Posey is constantly pulled by the public relations and community relations departments.