How far would you go ....

Tigger & pooh

To let your child follow their dream? If they had a true talent? Would you move to a different state, let them move, homeschool so they could practice? We are watching a skiing competition and one of the teens was talking about how his parents let him move away as a teenager to practice and compete.

alizabethanne

I like to think that I would help them go as far as they could if that means moving, homeschool etc. and if they were old enough take those steps themselves... I know that would really hard for me but I would. I am far from that being our situation though!

LadyXaverian

fredalina:

I honestly don't know. It would depend on whether it was possible for us, since the top coaches are usually VERY expensive. So there's the cost of moving or boarding, coaching, maybe tutors, etc. And if it is possible there are other considerations like her talent and interest and willingness to work hard, etc.

This is where my head is at. The idea makes me uncomfortable because it's definitely not my hope for my kid to be "rich and famous".

So, I hope she has something she loves and is really good at, but I kind of hope it's something like spelling, cooking, watercolors, or interpretive dance.

Tigger & pooh

SarahL77:

fredalina:

I honestly don't know. It would depend on whether it was possible for us, since the top coaches are usually VERY expensive. So there's the cost of moving or boarding, coaching, maybe tutors, etc. And if it is possible there are other considerations like her talent and interest and willingness to work hard, etc.

This is where my head is at. The idea makes me uncomfortable because it's definitely not my hope for my kid to be "rich and famous".

So, I hope she has something she loves and is really good at, but I kind of hope it's something like spelling, cooking, watercolors, or interpretive dance.

Sarah, I agree! As neat as it would be for my child to be amazing at something, it would be even better if they were amazing at something inexpensive.

honkytonk_kid

bearsbearsbears:

I think a lot would depend on how mature my child was--do I think she could handle the pressures of living away from her family?  Of competing at a high level?  A lot would depend on the nature of the child, the sport, and my family's current situation. I would have to balance my family's needs, my child's needs, and how this would affect her future.

I think most of my decision would depend on the above questions.

H and I both have careers that are fairly easy to relocate with, especially me as an RN. So I think the decision to move somewhere for specific opportunities like coaching, competing, etc would be pretty easy for us. I would also seriously consider homeschooling if practice/competition schedules required it. The part that I would have the hardest time with is having my kid move away at a young age. I don't think I could do that much younger than 17 or 18.

hopecounts

This is a tough one and for me I think a lot of it would come down to how my kid felt about it.

to use real examples Pete Sampras wanted to play tennis and did the work/training because of that. He is pretty happy with how his life has gone.

Andre Agassi on the other hand was pushed by his father to play and while he was really good and had a talent for it he had a very love/hate relationship with the game and has a lot of issues with how he was raised/being sent to a tennis academy, etc.

if my kid brought up trying to go doe where with a talent they had we'd support them as much as possible within the financial limitations of what we can afford and if that included going away to school, getting a tutor, etc. we'd try to make it happen. Moving would be harder due to certain factors of my husband's job.

if my kid enjoyed a sport but didn't bring up taking it to the next level regardless of how good they are I'd let it go and let them enjoy it as a hobby. The pressure of taking it to the next level is huge and if my kid didn't 't really want it I wouldn't put then through it.

MamaKoria

I'd go as much as we could.

catycate

I think I would let my child lead me on that one, although at some point, finances also come into play. If s/he was passionate and truly loved it, I would go as far as they could. It sucks when a parent has to say no after so much training and time. My little sister is an incredibly talented ballet dancer, but as she gets older, it all gets more expensive. She's ready to go for it, but my dad and stepmom just can't afford it and they feel terrible about it.

LoveBeingAWife33008

I am going to use gymnastics as an example. I would allow my daughter to complete on team (up to 40 hours a week) after and before school as long as her grades were kept up and she wanted to do it. She would have to keep going to public school as I am a public school teacher and wouldn't stay home with her. I wouldn't move and I wouldn't allow her to leave our house and live elsewhere. I will travel with her as much as needed to complete.

LoveBeingAWife33008

I am going to use gymnastics as an example. I would allow my daughter to complete on team (up to 40 hours a week) after and before school as long as her grades were kept up and she wanted to do it. She would have to keep going to public school as I am a public school teacher and wouldn't stay home with her. I wouldn't move and I wouldn't allow her to leave our house and live elsewhere. I will travel with her as much as needed to compete.