I had an important conversation the other day with my daughter. A little back story…she dances and she can actually dance really well. There is an upcoming placement class that she needs to go to for dance and she said she didn’t want to go. I asked why and she said that she wanted to audition for the play at her school. The school hosts a play every year for the 4th and 5th-grade classes and she wanted to be a part of that. Here is the conversation where I learned a lesson to do what you are great at.
Do what you are great at
Zaza: Mom I don’t want to go to the dance placement class because that will take time away from me being in the play at school
Me: What play?
Zaza: Aladdin mom I want to be in the play and I want to audition as Jasmine
Me: The main character? Why am I just hearing about this and I didn’t know you wanted to be in a play.
Zaza: Yes mom I want to be in the play the teacher should have emailed you the info
The teacher did but erased it because I didn’t know she wanted to be a part of it. I go and find the email and pull it up to see that auditions are for today. Yes this afternoon and she has to sing and recite some lines to be the main character
Me: But you can’t sing….
Zaza: *falls out* Mom you are so mean, you don’t believe in me, you don’t have any confidence in me. Why are you like this I hate you *she stomps up the stairs*
I give her a moment because maybe I was a bit too real with her. I call her back down in about 10 minutes
Me: Ok you want to audition sing. Sing right now
She sings and I record it. I then let her listen to a child her age sing the same song.
Me: You can’t sing. I will always be real with you. You won’t embarrass me nor yourself. You can actually dance why aren’t you doing what you are great at instead of what you aren’t so great at.
That’s when the aha moment clicked with me. Isn’t it funny how some people do everything under the sun but what they are actually great at? Do what you are great at!
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16 Comments
robin rue
August 8, 2018 at 11:46 amI love that you were honest with her and saved her from the possible heartbreak of not getting the part. I think it’s important to encourage our kids to do what they are actually really good at.
Alli Smith
August 8, 2018 at 11:53 amSometimes it is so difficult being honest with our kids when it comes to a lack of talent in an area. I always tried to point my kids towards activities they were good at and it helped when they actually loved the activities.
candy
August 8, 2018 at 11:57 amLetting children try out different things is always important. Just talk to them about not everyone will be great at everything. Always good to give it a try if that is what they really want to do.
Glenda Cates
August 8, 2018 at 12:57 pmDancing is nice but being in a Play would be to and even if she can’t sing at least she was willing to try and see if she could get the part. I wish my son would do things like that because after being BULLIED so much he stays in a shell. So no, matter how bad he is at something I would tell him he could do as it would just be nice to see him smile for once and do things other children do.
mj
August 8, 2018 at 1:06 pmI feel like I’ve been having this conversation with my daughter for the last two years. She is still a year away from being able to do a talent show at school. She wants to sing, too. She dances in competition. Why won’t she dance? I almost want to let her do it and fail so she will never wonder what if… Thankfully, we have a few months!
Natalie
August 8, 2018 at 3:13 pmOh how I wish I could sing or even dance haha! I agree, it’s good to pursue what you excel at. I like your daughter’s openness to try different things out!
Lisa
August 8, 2018 at 5:03 pmI love that you were so honest with her. Too many parents tell their kids they are great at everything and they miss out really perfecting their gifts.
Kim Croisant
August 8, 2018 at 5:26 pmI love hearing what young kids have to say these days. When my son speaks out of nowhere, it’s kind of funny, but I don’t let him see me laugh!
Terri Steffes
August 8, 2018 at 11:03 pmI get that we can do what we are gifted in, but we can have many talents, just by working hard at them. I can’t sing either, but with a vocal coach and a few hours of practice a week, I am much better than I was!
Carol Cassara
August 9, 2018 at 2:22 amI think it’s always going to be difficult to be honest with children because we don’t really want to break their hearts. If she really wants to give it a try though, I guess it would have been nice as well.
Ricci
August 9, 2018 at 8:51 amIt’s hard to be honest with people but I’m sure she will appreciate that honesty later, I know I always did! I hope she pursues dance and loves it!!
Tasheena
August 9, 2018 at 1:22 pmI love your honesty with her and the relationship that you guys have. It’s so important that we also share with our kiddos to not to forget about the talents in which they have.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
August 9, 2018 at 3:14 pmI agree that kids should do what they are good at. I also think it’s fine to challenge themselves and try something they may not think they are good at. I also miss not having to pay bills as a child. As an adult, that’s not an option unfortunately lol!
Heather
August 10, 2018 at 1:41 amIt’s good to be real with your kids. So many of us just praise our kids for everything they do. My husband always says that it’s wrong to give kids a participation trophy. They should only get trophies if they’ve done something and won.
Cherri Megasko
August 10, 2018 at 6:23 pmI never had a problem being honest with my kids. But unfortunately, I became known as the mean momma!
bohemian babushka
August 11, 2018 at 3:29 amBabushka always encouraged The Trio to do things- even things there weren’t good at. Because enjoying and being good at aren’t always the same thing. BB2U