Comments on: Superstar Kids http://thisinspires.me/superstar-kids Stuff that's on My Mind Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Brian Swan http://thisinspires.me/superstar-kids/comment-page-1#comment-197 Brian Swan Sat, 08 May 2010 01:36:06 +0000 http://thisinspires.me/?p=320#comment-197 My feeling is that kids will gravitate to what they love as long as you (parents) open them to all the possibilities out there. For example, my little girl just turned 3 down here in Fiji and has been traveling around the world for 1/2 of her life. We experience a ton of things and she always go to what she loves. I thought she may be surfing already though I think she is a bit scared since I break many boards and get many reef cuts. I have a feeling that she will be a surfer though I am not going to push it on her. She sees the love I have for surfing & the ocean and she will gravitate when she is ready. Maybe she's waiting for Mom to pick surfing back up...who knows? That is how Rhonda & I met 12 years ago this month...in the water surfing in San Diego, CA. Who could ever tell that a farm boy in a small town from Illinois (the middle of the USA...1000's of miles from the ocean) would start surfing at the age of 20 years old and spend the next 15 years traveling the world to experience the different waves and cultures of the world? It took me 20 years to find my real passion and love of the ocean, though when I landed in Australia back when I was 20...it knew it immediately! Now, I am in no ways a pro surfer & it does not matter to me either...I do it for the love! I know that Hanalei will find her love and passion....who knows, she may be Surfing's World Champion in 15 years? Bula from Fiji! Brian Swan My feeling is that kids will gravitate to what they love as long as you (parents) open them to all the possibilities out there. For example, my little girl just turned 3 down here in Fiji and has been traveling around the world for 1/2 of her life. We experience a ton of things and she always go to what she loves. I thought she may be surfing already though I think she is a bit scared since I break many boards and get many reef cuts. I have a feeling that she will be a surfer though I am not going to push it on her. She sees the love I have for surfing & the ocean and she will gravitate when she is ready. Maybe she’s waiting for Mom to pick surfing back up…who knows? That is how Rhonda & I met 12 years ago this month…in the water surfing in San Diego, CA.

Who could ever tell that a farm boy in a small town from Illinois (the middle of the USA…1000′s of miles from the ocean) would start surfing at the age of 20 years old and spend the next 15 years traveling the world to experience the different waves and cultures of the world? It took me 20 years to find my real passion and love of the ocean, though when I landed in Australia back when I was 20…it knew it immediately!
Now, I am in no ways a pro surfer & it does not matter to me either…I do it for the love!
I know that Hanalei will find her love and passion….who knows, she may be Surfing’s World Champion in 15 years?

Bula from Fiji!
Brian Swan

]]> By: LadyWanderlust (LisaB) http://thisinspires.me/superstar-kids/comment-page-1#comment-195 LadyWanderlust (LisaB) Fri, 07 May 2010 02:56:58 +0000 http://thisinspires.me/?p=320#comment-195 You and your husband are debating NATURE vs. NURTURE. You are both right. I think we are all born with these God-given talents that push us and drive us to be who we are and to do certain things. But we are also human and flawed, and a children, inexperienced. Children need the gentle guidance of parents who have world experience. So often I see many naturally gifted children in my classroom wasting those talents because parents have not invested the time or energy on helping their child develop their gifts. On the other hand, I have seen parents push children to be something they are not (or as a means to live vicariously through the child) and the child is miserable because the push is to do something that is not their "destiny". Again, you guys are both right. GREAT post. You and your husband are debating NATURE vs. NURTURE. You are both right. I think we are all born with these God-given talents that push us and drive us to be who we are and to do certain things. But we are also human and flawed, and a children, inexperienced. Children need the gentle guidance of parents who have world experience. So often I see many naturally gifted children in my classroom wasting those talents because parents have not invested the time or energy on helping their child develop their gifts. On the other hand, I have seen parents push children to be something they are not (or as a means to live vicariously through the child) and the child is miserable because the push is to do something that is not their “destiny”. Again, you guys are both right. GREAT post.

]]> By: Francis http://thisinspires.me/superstar-kids/comment-page-1#comment-193 Francis Wed, 05 May 2010 03:30:24 +0000 http://thisinspires.me/?p=320#comment-193 That's allowing my husbands ego to grow!! ;) I do like the fact that we find our passion in life. You are blessed with 2 superstar daughters!! Thank you for sharing! I love it! No right way to be a parent but I love how this "parenting" journey seems to figure itself out! One for my hubby! :) That’s allowing my husbands ego to grow!! ;) I do like the fact that we find our passion in life. You are blessed with 2 superstar daughters!!
Thank you for sharing! I love it! No right way to be a parent but I love how this “parenting” journey seems to figure itself out! One for my hubby! :)

]]> By: molly campbell http://thisinspires.me/superstar-kids/comment-page-1#comment-192 molly campbell Wed, 05 May 2010 03:05:29 +0000 http://thisinspires.me/?p=320#comment-192 I will admit right off the bat that I am no "ordinary" marriage ref here (ILOVETHATSHOW). No, I blog about my most unusual family and their exploits. However, on this one, I tend to side with your husband. However, you do need to "expose" your kids to things that will allow them to choose what they might want to do. This advice must be followed CAREFULLY, however. Our older girl tried out for a play in eighth grade and decided to be famous. She traipsed all over the US in acting and debate competitions before finally going to college, majoring in film, and becoming a talent agent in LA. Because of her, I got to meet William Shatner and David Hasselhoff. But I digress. WE MADE THE HUGE MISTAKE OF LETTING OUR YOUNGER CHILD TAKE A PONY RIDE WHEN SHE WAS 6. Thousands of dollars and five horses later, she finally teaches school and pays for her own riding expenses... Both girls found their passions. Both parents were proud. But those damn horses nearly killed us with vet bills, riding boots and trunks, riding lessons, bits, saddles and all sorts of leather things that looked vaguely like dominatrix tools, expensive riding jackets, helmets, and hats. My suggestion? Try to get them interested in affordable pursuits: playing Scrabble, Sudoku, maybe even a Pogo stick. Steer clear of anything requiring professional one-on-one coaching and custom made clothing! Best to you1 molly I will admit right off the bat that I am no “ordinary” marriage ref here (ILOVETHATSHOW). No, I blog about my most unusual family and their exploits. However, on this one, I tend to side with your husband. However, you do need to “expose” your kids to things that will allow them to choose what they might want to do. This advice must be followed CAREFULLY, however. Our older girl tried out for a play in eighth grade and decided to be famous. She traipsed all over the US in acting and debate competitions before finally going to college, majoring in film, and becoming a talent agent in LA. Because of her, I got to meet William Shatner and David Hasselhoff. But I digress. WE MADE THE HUGE MISTAKE OF LETTING OUR YOUNGER CHILD TAKE A PONY RIDE WHEN SHE WAS 6. Thousands of dollars and five horses later, she finally teaches school and pays for her own riding expenses… Both girls found their passions. Both parents were proud. But those damn horses nearly killed us with vet bills, riding boots and trunks, riding lessons, bits, saddles and all sorts of leather things that looked vaguely like dominatrix tools, expensive riding jackets, helmets, and hats.
My suggestion? Try to get them interested in affordable pursuits: playing Scrabble, Sudoku, maybe even a Pogo stick. Steer clear of anything requiring professional one-on-one coaching and custom made clothing! Best to you1 molly

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