If you were a star athlete in high school, then maybe you dream of cheering your child on from the stands as they follow in your foot steps. If you were a performer then you hope to watch your own child act or sing on stage. While it is common for teenagers to pursue the passions of their parents, there are also times when teenagers find their own passion and that can be hard for a parent to accept. Here is what you should do if your child doesn't share your passion.
Stop Living in the Past
You're time in the spotlight is over, and right now it's all about your child. Stop bringing out your football highlight video and reliving those high school glory days. This will make your teen feel like their own accomplishments could never compare to yours. From now on, unless your child asks to hear about the time you intercepted the football, scored a touchdown and won state for your team, go ahead and keep that story yourself.
Help Them Find Their Passion
Finding the right balance between schooling and extra-curricular activities can help protect your child from delinquent activity. If your child hasn't found something that they really love doing, help them find out what it is. This can be done by encouraging them to try many different things. Through your local Parks and Recreation you can enroll them in different city programs, from various sports to art or cooking classes; by trying a variety of hobbies, your child will likely find something that they really love.
Learn More About Their Passion
The last thing you want to do as a parent is to drift away from your teenager, but when you don't share common interests, this can easily happen. To remain close to your teen, it's important that you learn more about their hobby and take an active interest in it. If you grew up hating sports but your son loves basketball, find someone to help you understand the rules. Although you won't be an expert right away, your child will appreciate the time and effort you've taken to learn more about what they care about, bringing you closer together.
Celebrate Their Strengths
Although you might not share the same excitement for your child's hobby, be sure to always recognize and celebrate their strengths. If you hate classical music but have a child who loves being in the symphony, you need to be at every performance cheering the loudest so your child knows you're proud of their strengths, even if they differ from your own. This will create a lasting bond between you and your child.
Letting go of your own passions and learning to accept your child's can be difficult, but forgetting yourself and helping them find a hobby they love will go a long way in keeping you and your teenager close.
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