Motivating Talented Kids
Chris has always been a gifted singer. At an early age, I noticed he had a gift for singing and enrolled him in Kindermusik. His pitch and tone amazed me, especially since I can’t sing and always wanted to.
At the age of 6 he would mimic the Lion King’s “I just can’t wait to be King” song and sang it beautifully. He would often get complimented and offered solo parts at school.
I signed him up every year for musical theatre classes until he started to grow tired of the long and boring practices. Singing was no longer fun, so I didn’t push him to take classes
Chris has always been a reluctant singer. He sings when he wants to and he doesn’t ever want to be put on the spot. Whenever I ask him to sing for someone, he never does.
He’s been in several play and musicals, and enjoyed the performances, but not the rehearsals.
The most recent recital he did was High School Musical. His teacher (a former Broadway performer) said Chris had the talent to go all the way to Broadway if he wanted to. He just needed the desire.
A there in lies my problem. I have a talented son, who’s been gifted by God with a voice that brings tears to my eyes, but he doesn’t want to use his gift.
There’s a local community production of High School Musical coming up and I want him to audition. He’s doesn’t. “I’m not really interested in plays that much any more,” he said. To be honest, the only thing he’s interested in these days is video games.
So what do I do? Do I push him to audition, and become one of those annoying stage moms? Or do I let him hide his gift under a bushel until it’s snuffed out?
There are not many opportunities in our town for musicals for boys his age. This production of High School Musical is one of them where he could possibly get the lead.
A part of me knows to let it go, but another part of me knows my son and if it resembles anything like work, he wants no part of it. I try and tell him that sometimes you have to take the parts you don’t love, to one day get the parts you do.
I’m just saddened by his lack of interest in using his incredible talent. It won’t be long before his voice starts to change, and I’m afraid if he doesn’t sing through the change he might lose his gift.
Does anyone else have a child reluctant to use his/her gift? If so, how do you handle it?
