Reach for the Stars...and Throw Out Your Back?

I'm not a parent. I would never pretend to be one or the best one. However, when I look around and see glimpses of how others parent their children, a little of piece of me dies inside.

I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. I believe anyone can be anything they want to be...do anything they want to do. Their goals may be harder if there are roadblocks. But, as Hooked on Phonics taught me...where there's a will there's an A.

Children should be taught that they can dream. If they want to be the tooth fairy when they're little, they shouldn't be told that it's not possible - even if there is no such thing. Let them think they can be President. Let them believe that they can be a supermodel - even if their entire lineage consists of morbidly obese individuals that have yet to produce anyone over 5'2". Let them think they can be an astronaut, a dancer, a fireman or a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Help them reach for the moon...they're bound to pick up a few stars.

Yesterday I witnessed a mother completely humiliate her daughter. She was telling anyone who would listen that her daughter would probably need to go to Special Ed because her spelling is awful and her reading abilities aren't that much better. The poor girl looked like she was going to cry. This beautiful, well-spoken 10 year old was belittled and she looked defeated.

But, she wants to be a dancer...or a professional ice skater...or a singer. I told her she could be anything she wanted to be. She's a great dancer. When she sings, she sings with pride. How could anyone tell her that she couldn't be these things...because her spelling is 'awful'?

Everyone has the potential to be a superstar in their own right. It's how you treat people. How people respond to you. It's making a positive difference in the world.

To this little girl and to all the others who are not encouraged by their parents to strive for greatness, I say this: Reach for the stars. There will be naysayers. There will be bullies. There will be obstacles that will be hard to get through.

You shouldn't have to throw your back out reaching for the stars. But if you do, go see a doctor. There are plenty who were once in your shoes - but, they reached for the stars and achieved greatness!