Replies to '03/06 To Be a Child Star'

By 13, I'd say you would have some realistic idea as to what's going on and what it really takes to get there. I'd say you yourself would have to have a strong ego to handle the near-constant rejection. There is a difference between an adolescent making a semi-informed decision and asking for parental affirmation & support and someone who has been pushed by "stage parents" since they were pre-adolescent. Not having seen the show yet, I can only guess, but this installment may deal more with the latter.

 

In HS, I knew 1 or 2 who had major stage aspirations as you seem to; however, I have no idea what happened to them. BTW, what is "CIF"? Best of luck to you.

Yes, children can have aspirations and backing our kids up is very imporant, but I persoanlly do not beleive that putting them in the public eye is neccessarily the way to go, maybe for some,(older kids) but we as parents need to remember that they are children and they should be aloud to be kids. look at the many child stars today, what have they become as adults? are they really as happy as they seem to be in the public? If a parent is going to put their children in the public eye, then they better teach their kids to accept the fact that they are not always going to be number one, and they will get turn downs and that not every one is gonna think they have the talent, I think there are many parents who give their kids false hope and make them believe that they are number one and then when they get turned down or whatever,t he kid gets bent out of shape but of course those are usually the parents who get so bent out of shape as well therefore the kids pick up the attitude, Not good.

Also, seriously, I wonder if people like Britney Spears, the Olssen twins, Paris Hilton and many like them know what it;s like to really "work" for their mney, have they really earned their way to success. The Olsen twins were babies whent hey were put into show biz, it's all they really knew, Paris, well she was born into money,a nd never really had to work for a living, and look at Britney, now there's a good role model for my kids! NOT! I want my kids to be kids, to learn to work and earn their money and not to take life for granted. I want them to grow up and know what they want in life and to work hard to achieve their goals and to be be able to look back on their life and know that they did everything in their own power to get to there they are. Yes, encouragement and guidance is good and as parents we need to be doing these things but yet at the same time, let the kids decide what they want to dow ith life and guide them to the right path, help them to reach their potential and also to teach them that life isn't always fair, not to give them false hopes and expectations.

I do beleive there are good parents out there who want the best for their kids, but for those parents who are dieing to get their kids noticed better be careful cause the outcome "could" lead the wrong direction. I am a loving and caring parent who believes in my children, I believe my children are better off being a kid, developing their interests and dreams and as I will be here to encourage them along, I am in no rush to make them grow up, that will come soon enough. It's their dreams I want for them. Life is too precious and I believe in childhood and my kids are going to have childhood memories being a kid and I am not overly anxious to get them into their careers, Whne they decide what they want to dow ith their lives, I will be their number one supportor. You were thirteen when you started working towards your dream and that's wonderful and it;s great that your mom was theref or you as she should be, my children are 6 and 4, and thought hey have talked about what tey want to be when they grow up, theya re not ready to be grown up but I do encourage them to follow their dreams. My oldest loves music and there are things she is interested in, but I am not going to put her in front of an audience, she is going to take  piano , guitar  and singing lessons and we will go from there, but no public eye for her cause as far as I am concerned, she is too young for that, she loves being a 6 year old at this point and I personally would rather have it that way.

I will encourage my kids to be what they want to be but yet, don't grow up too quickly, childhood only lasts for a short time, enjoy life and parents enjoy your kids.......