Lessons Learned From Disney

My youngest is a huge Disney Channel fan and a fan of High School Musical which we have watched repeatedly until he found a new favorite movie. The movie is now 10 years old, wow I feel old, and is showing on Disney. 

Here's what occurred to me, one how true, if not overly exaggerated, the status quo is in everyday life. Two, the pressures we put on our children and not even realize it. Now there will always be groups of people who fit into society in just a certain way. Rich, poor, right side or wrong side, popular, misfits, and so on. It's how we teach our children to work with all types of people that will determine how successful they will be later in life. 

I try really hard not to over pressure my kids. I know what they are capable of. Such as, my oldest struggled in school with learning disabilities, I told him I would be thrilled with "C's" but he was better than the D's and F's he was bringing home. My younger two pick up on things easier so I push them to get A's and B's which they both do, although my youngest struggles with self esteem issues. My oldest excelled in Art and Welding so I didn't push him into sports, but after watching him run a 5K highly suggested he go out for cross country. Which he also loved. My younger two are very competitive and love sports but when they play I want them to try their best, play hard, and have fun. We go to games and parents shout at their kids to be front and center, corner them after games, push them not to work with teamwork and sportsmanship but to be the best even if that's not what's best for the team. 

I had someone close say once that she wished she could have done the extra activities she loved in school rather then be pushed to be a "sports star." I love my kids because they are uniquely their own person, with their own interests, likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. I want them to find success and to not just work a job but love what they do. That's not to say I don't want them to strive for their best effort in everything they do, but to also enjoy what they do, and reach beyond their own expectations.