Living Out Your Dreams
I’m going to talk about who won American Idol last night in this post, so if you don’t know want to know yet, stop reading now.
Okay, that was your warning. No more warnings!
LG loved watching American Idol this season. This is actually the 3rd season of American Idol that has occurred in her lifetime, but this is the first one that she will remember. She can name the top 10 Idols by sight. She can even tell me who is singing when I play their songs (sometimes even before she hears their voices).
Her two favorites were Jordin and Blake. All season long, it’s been all about Jordin and Blake - especially Jordin. And, of course, Jordin is the hometown girl, so we’ve all been rooting for her. (And for our little familial connection - she used to go and sing at talent night at a local bar where Mike’s cousin played in the band, so Mike’s cousin has known Jordin for several years.)
I think what really struck me last night, watching Jordin singing after she won American Idol (Holy cow! I know someone who knows the AMERICAN IDOL!) was watching her parents, and seeing how very proud they were of her. Her dad has had his own share of fame in the NFL, but it is NOTHING compared to what Jordin will be experiencing in the next several months, years, even decades as an American Idol.
It made me think about what it would be like to be them. To look at your precious baby girl standing there in front of millions of people getting ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. This was Jordin’s dream from the time she was a little girl - to be a singer - and especially since she saw the first season of American Idol. She wanted to be standing on that stage one day. And there she was. Their daughter had lived out her dream. But, in doing so, they have to know that in a certain way, they have lost her. And so it must be a little bittersweet as well - to watch your child live out her dreams, but to know that she is no longer your baby girl under your protection. Now she sort of belongs to the world.
It’s so easy to just want to bundle them up and never let them out the door. It’s so easy to just want to hold on to them forever and keep them with you and never let them go. But as parents, we can’t do that, or we are not doing our jobs.
A friend whose son was planning to go to college several states away to play a sport really put it in perspective for me when I said it must be really hard to let him go. She said that no matter how much she wanted to keep him with her, she couldn’t stand in the way of his dreams. Instead, she had to encourage him and support him in those dreams even if it meant that he was going to be thousands of miles away from her.
I’m not even close to sending my daughter off to live out her dreams, but I know that it will be hard when it comes. I also know that it’s something I have to do. And it may be the hardest part of parenting. Our instinct says to cocoon them and protect them, but our heart tells us to let them soar.
I don’t imagine it’s easy for any parent to let go, maybe even less for Jordin’s parents who have to share her with millions of people, but it also must be the most amazing thing to watch your child live out his or her dreams. Because when you become a parent, your dreams aren’t just for yourself anymore - your dreams are now for your children.
We all need a safety net when we take our first steps on the highwire, and that safety net is our loving parents - parents who are there to catch them if they fall and kiss the owies and then watch them with tears in our eyes as they soar above the clouds.
Comment by rose
May 25, 2007 @ 1:39 am
nice. very touching….
Comment by Angel
May 25, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
This is such a beautiful post!
My daughter will be entering 7th grade in the fall; and judging by how fast this year flew by, I know it will be no time before she’s ready for college. And as much as it will rip my heart out, I do not want to keep her from her dreams. I know how that feels (not good).
I’m SO happy Jordin won!! Can’t wait to take DQ to the concert ;)
Comment by Barbara
May 26, 2007 @ 9:00 am
Jordin will be a big star for sure. How cute that LG was able to enjoy American Idol with you.
I hope I’m able to let my son go at just the right time. He hates change and leaving home will be hard for him. I’m actually wondering if i will have to push him out of the nest for his own good. I can’t wait to see what the future brings. He is almost 12!
Comment by MDV
May 29, 2007 @ 3:43 am
I was only a part of F’s life for 5 years when the time came to let go. It found me in the garage painting a dresser crying my eyes out while his dad helped him pack up the U-haul. Yet, watching him get married and now they are building a house…it’s so gratifying.
I will cry when BB leaves…but knowing I helped him become a self-sufficient independent person will also be gratifying.
When you love something…set it free…you know the drill. XOXOXO