Watching the Olympics the past two weeks, I was struck again and again by the dedication of the young athletes and of their parents, all of whom had sacrificed time and money to help their children realize their dreams.
The Games probably fueled many kids’ fantasies about joining the ranks of celebrity athletes, just as a new season of American Idol or any number of other “you, too, can be rich and famous” shows make them dream big. But the road from the varsity hockey team to the Olympic rink is long and iffier than most kids think. How do you keep them motivated – but realistic.
- First, never dash a child’s ambitions. Instead, talk about alternative career paths. For example, a young athlete who won’t make the pros can learn what it takes to work in sports management or to be a sports writer.
- Find out what’s driving your child’s dream. Ask her to complete the sentence, “If I were a famous _______, I would have______.” If your teen daughter dreams of being recognized and admired wherever she goes, ask her to imagine what it would be like to have paparazzi climbing her fence or fans posting unflattering photos all over the internet.
- And finally, be honest about the financial commitment. If their passion is costing a fortune, involve them in outlining a specific budget and also discuss a hypothetical exit strategy.
