Toddlers, Tierras, and Beauty Pageants

I agree with Rose.

My son has a friend whose whole life has been all about hockey with an eye on the NHL. I have always worried about what he was missing out on in his life. No time for other sports. Sent off to hockey boarding schools instead of being at home to grow up with his younger brothers or be around his extended family. Unavailable to attend friend's birthday parties and other activities most kids enjoy growing up. He may or may not be good enough to make the NHL some day but he like thousands of boys like him have sacrificed their childhoods to take the shot. His mother worked 3 jobs to finance all of this and that meant her younger boys paid a big price along the way too. Seems to me its all about perspective and balance no matter what talents or interests our children pursue. As parents we need to always check our motivations if we find ourselves pressing so hard or trying to live through our children's talents.

The pagents have those kinds of moms who seem to be living their own fantasy through their kids but so do other things like sports. I know my dad never wanted my brother to play football even though it was what my brother wanted to do. My dad pushed him instead to play baseball because my dad was on his way to the pros before he got my mother pregnant and had to give up the dream to raise a family instead.