This happened a while ago when I used to work as a support worker. I have known this particular woman not a close friend per says but whenever we’re at work, we usually gist so this faithful day, I had noticed she wasn’t really talking like we usually do even when I asked if she was okay, she responded yes so, I thought to myself that maybe she’s just tired or whatever.
After our shift in the morning, she said, can I have a word with you? Sure! I responded out of curiosity, then, she started, can you please help me talk to my daughter?
Then I asked, is anything the matter with you daughter?
She sighed and was mute for a while……………….
Then, she continued…….
Dumebi, she’s not making me happy. I am really worried. I became more inquisitive, what’s going on? Is she okay? You are getting me scared? Then, she said she’s not serious with her studies, she doesn’t do her homework, she’s not listening, always getting into trouble and the annoying part is she wants to do music. She’s always singing, dancing at home in fact there’s no song she doesn’t know how to sing. Singing and dancing is all she knows with tears dropping out from her eyes.
So, I asked, what do you want me to do? She replied, please, talk to her, tell her to be serious with her studies, tell her to be doing her homework, tell her to be reading and many more. How old is your daughter? I asked her and she said she’s 11.
Dear intentional parents, leave your child to dream. There’s nothing wrong if your child tells you she wants to be an artist, musician, bin-man, ballerina, teacher, swimming instructor, driver, singer etc. let them dream. Come to think of it, your child comes to tell you she wants to be a musician, are you afraid that she would not make enough money? Or that she’ll be too exposed being your only child? What exactly is your fear? are you afraid that her career choice may not be able to stand the test of time or fade away with the way technology is going? Or are you afraid that the competition is so high in the music industry and as a result, your child may not become a star or recognized? Whatever your worries are, I encourage you to let your child dream whether big or small. Let them feel confident in telling you about their dream. Don’t crush it with words like’’ with this your tiny legs’’ or ‘’ you want to sing, with which voice’’ because if you do, your child is going to feel that you don’t believe in her abilities to succeed and may affect the rest of her life.
I will suggest that whenever your child comes to say I want to be a musician, sit down with your child and say “darling, so you want to be a musician, that sounds good. So, tell me, ‘’what inspired you to want to be a musician’’? Are you going to be writing your songs or will you get people to write for you while you do the singing and dancing? What kind of music would you be singing? gospel or circular music, who are your role models in the music industry? Ask her as many questions as you can around music. Do research on her style or choice of music, her role models and study about them on how they succeeded and give your child your 100% support. Help your child to discover their natural talents and gifts, encourage her without forcing her to do what you want and help her flourish in her strength.
Again, sometimes these dreams don’t come true. Some children, as they grow older and exposed, their dream and aspiration changes but whatever the case maybe, never crush your child’s dream you may never know where that dream will get her. She may be the world best musician or dancer.
Academy performance does not guarantee a child’s success in life especially in this day and time. Give your child your full support, her success is dependent on the how much support she gets from you. She may become the next Mark Zuckerberg, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Elon Musk, Michael Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, who knows some of these great men and women had their dreams when they were young like your daughter.
