5 Tips to Avoid Being a Stereotypical Stage Mom
How do you help your children pursue their entertainment industry dreams without becoming a stereotypical stage mom? Use these tips.
If you are a proud mother of a very talented child, it can be hard not to smother them when they are on stage performing or doing what they do best. Sometimes being a stage mom means that we need to take a step back, and allow our children to take the lead on what they feel is right.
According to research, there are over a million Millenials becoming mothers every year, and many are having more than one child. This means there are going to be a lot more stage moms out there competing against each other, instead of letting their child compete themselves.
So how do you ensure you are not being an annoying stage mom, and how do you know when to let your child decide what's best for them? The last thing you want is resentment.
Keep on reading to learn how to be the best, supportive stage mom possible.
Check-In With Yourself If This Is for You, or Your Child
Perhaps one of the worst stage mom nightmares is pushing your child to do things that you never got to do as a child. If you are constantly breathing down your child's neck, and feel like you care about their performances more than they do, you are probably right.
If your child isn't super passionate or enthusiastic about what you are encouraging them to do, you need to check in with yourself and see if this is possibly your own dream that you are trying to live through them.
Not Helping Enough
If you feel that your child is constantly begging you to take them to practice or recitals, and you just don't feel bothered, you could be affecting their potential.
Remember that this is not about you, it is about them. If you cannot take them, make sure you arrange a situation where someone else can. Some child modeling agencies have great contacts for other families who can help support each other.
Being Too Competitive
If you feel that you may be too competitive during your children's performances, you may need to settle down a bit. Remember that you are the main role model in your child's life, they are going to mirror exactly what you are doing.
This means that you need to watch your child's behavior closely. If they are picking up on your competitive traits, sit down and have a proper talk about good sportsmanship.
Support the Wins and the Losses
Your child needs to feel supported no matter what the outcome of their performance is. If not, this could cause many psychological issues such as over-achieving and performance anxiety as an adult.
If they lose, you need to support and congratulate them as much as if they win. This will make them feel that you have their back and they do not have to win to receive your love.
Stop Complaining
Your child needs to feel that everything is under their control during their performances. You need to be careful about complaining about external forces on things that could affect their performance.
If you complain too much, it may cause them to develop a victim mentality, feeling that everything is out of their control.
Learn More About Being a Stage Mom
The life of being a stage mom is a lot of work, however, it is very fulfilling. Remember to take a step back and speak more with your child about their feelings, this will help you judge if you are doing a good job or not.
If you would like to learn more parenting tips, check out more articles like this on this blog!