by L. A. Brown

Created on: October 21, 2010

Parenting a child comes with many challenges. One is putting and keeping them on a path to a healthy and happy future. In our modern generation, that usually means being a successful citizen. But what happens when you are greeted with nothing but resistance to your efforts? Is it a sign of trouble ahead or are our expectations simply misguided? I’m currently walking this fine line with one of my children now.  But before I go on about my problem, perhaps a little background into my own childhood will help us paint a better picture and help me come up with a solution.

As a child, I was quite shy and although I always had a group of kids to play with, I don’t feel like I had many close friends. I watched time and again, my parents sign my older sister up to many activities that she subsequently dropped out of. When I became of age to sign up and asked my parents, they would say, “No, we don’t want to spend the money again just for you to quit too.” I always felt cheated out of a chance to participate and maybe an opportunity to make new friends. I swore I would always encourage my own children to join groups, classes and sports if they wanted to. I’m proud to say that I’ve stuck with that promise with my son and now my daughter who is not quite four years old, and the reason for my current dilemma.

Ever since my daughter was a baby, she loved to listen to music and move her body to the beat. As she became a toddler, I would witness her planning dance routines with her cousin and putting on a show at family gatherings. When she was finally old enough to be signed up for dance lessons, I jumped on it, certain that she would love it and be a star pupil due to her obvious enthusiasm and budding talent. Was I ever wrong! The first class she burst into tears when it was time to go into the studio. The 2nd class she braved going in but repeatedly left the room for a variety of reasons. It has now been over a month and although she will happily enter the room and even stay there, she prefers to sit on the bench and watch. Trying to convince her to join the group and participate has gotten me nowhere.

I am incredibly frustrated by this unprecedented chain of events. I’m not as concerned about the money I’ve spent (although that is definitely a thorn in my side) as I am with the idea of her missing out on an opportunity that I would have loved as a child. Peeking through the little window at the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>