would you want your child to be the next big star, on or off the field

gymnastics - KR doing Gymnastics..
@meandmy3 (2227)
United States
June 5, 2009 2:55pm CST
My friends make fun of me because I say that I want my children to be good at something but I do not want them to be too good. The thing is I do not want that "star" life for them, I do not want them to lose their child hood. I do not want them spending all their time at practice etc. I want them to have fun and experience many things in life. I feel that stardom takes that away at times. My daughter is very good at gymnastics, her coaches says she is a natural. I am glad she enjoys it, I am glad she is good, but I do not want her to be Olympics GOOD. Some say I am being selfish. others say too protective. I just want her to have a normal life. What about you?
6 responses
• Philippines
6 Jun 09
I would like my children to be interested in a lot of things.if one of my kids is interested in acting or modeling,I will not stand in the way of their interest.I will support them if they want to get into Hollywood or theater.if they want to be a star,I'll support them as long as he/she really loves what she's doing and it's not interfering with her studies.but I will not force them to it,the decision has to come from my children.
1 person likes this
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
16 Jun 09
I agree, I will support them no matter what they want, I just know that that life can not be easy, always having their business in the news etc.
@angelsmummy (1696)
5 Jun 09
I want my daughters to have a normal life. I think being the 'star' puts too much pressure on them to be the best. When they get older if they have talents in certain areas I will encourage them to continue with what they are good at but I would never want them to be too good.
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
6 Jun 09
My thoughts exactly. I want them to be happy, now if it is something they want and something they ask for I will support them.
@ellie333 (21016)
5 Jun 09
Hi Meandmy3, I think all any parent wants for their children is for them to be happy in whatever they do. Luckily they have people in the family that were very successful and in the limelight at a young age and didn't want to follow in their footsteps as such and one even turned down being a model as her studies were far more important for what she feels she wants to achieve, however if that was the route she had chosen I would have supported her but fame especially at a young age does seem cause a lot of problems. Huggles. Ellie :D
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
6 Jun 09
That is great. I think that it is more important to get a great educational back ground than to focus too much on sports or acting, there is such a limited chance of someone becoming sucessful in that anyway.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
6 Jun 09
Actually my oldest is shooting to be a professional football player. His father played football in college, and then became a professional baseball player... so he has it in his blood. He's been great at any sport he's ever tried. His coaches are trying to get him to stick with soccer because of how good he is at that. He's already playing at high school level, and he's in 6th grade. But football is his passion so he's going to play that next year. I'll be happy if it will get him a scholarship to college. After that, who knows. I know sports will be the field he chooses, one way or another. He eats, sleeps, and breathes sports! My daughter is into dance, and she's really good at that. She's done ballet for 3 years. Last year she did Jazz. This coming year I have her signed up for all 3, ballet, jazz, and tap. She's only 6 though, so we'll see how that goes.
• United States
6 Jun 09
Guess it depends on your definition of normal. I don't think people who do sports professionally are abnormal, they're just busier than people with a 9-5 job, and usually more famous. But that's normal for them, so it's okay for them.
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
8 Jun 09
True, I just do not want that type of life for them, the publicity, not being able to move about and go as you please, without being hounded by fans. I want them happy, to be happy in their job, to be happy in their married life, their families etc..
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
6 Jun 09
My douglas is a natural in all sports, at age five last year he made the all star team for six year olds. They have already contacted us for him to be in fall ball JM is all into music, he is five years old and can play the guitar and piano, I have been teaching him piano and well his music teacher at school is working on the guitar with him. KR is great at gymnastics, she was in one meet this year and won three golds.. She will start dance in the fall. As I competed in dance professionally till I was 17 years old, at which time I broke my ankle. Lets hope she takes after me, but even if she does I am not going to push her into it, it has to be what she wants and not what I want. It has to be her thing and Well while I want her to be good I do not want that life for her. I want her to be happy and have a normal life and the same with my boys
• India
6 Jun 09
If she was my child then I would send her to participate in the competitions because that is her interest and that is her life.If one day she becomes a star then make her to live a normal life instead of a starlife.that's all this satisfies you and also your child.
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
6 Jun 09
I just want her to have a very normal life, go to school, have friends, go to birthday parties, and play..
@pansy45 (153)
• Indonesia
6 Jun 09
i think it all depend on you every step that you take is a great way that you ever know.no one that have a right to blame you,you know what the best thing for your daughter,she is your child.
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
16 Jun 09
Thank you so much, You are right I know what is best for my children and for someone to be judgmental about that just because they do not believe the same thing is well silly.