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August 23, 2007, 8:49 am PDT
Just like them, it's all about YOU
Quote From: d060558I don't know how many parents coach their acting kids, but the world is full of parents pushing their children to be what they dreamed of being and never were. I am a mom of two teenage girls who twirl baton in competitions. This year I decided to forbid them to be in any competitions other than local competitions. Why? Because I am sick to death of the moms who dote on their girls and have forgotten what really matters in life. According to these moms, their children don't have to be happy. They just have to be winners that make their moms look proud. This, unfortunately, is reality. As far as real actors go, you can't really believe that children are motivated on their own without a great deal of time and energy coming from the parents. I am sure there are plenty of actors that will tell you they were pushed by obsessive parents. Perhaps you are overly sensitive since you are the parent of a working child actor and are blinded toward the sad truth. From what you say, your reasons for forbidding your kids to compete are all about you, just like these mothers. Making your children follow your dreams is no worse than keeping them from pursuing their own dreams. By the age of 10 I had the "acting bug", although my parents were dead set against it - my mother encouraged me to pursue my academics and to use my talent, which was already obvious at that age, to become a trial lawyer. Today I am an actress in spite of my parents and I resent their lack of support
and the years I lost in my beloved field until I was out of their control.
This show is not about stardom, it's about abusive, controling parents who would probably treat their kids just as badly if they were preparing for a spelling bee, little league game, day-to-day life, etc.
I suggest you allow your children to take their dreams as far as they wish, just teach them that the fun is in the DOING, not the winning.
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