dearsportsmom.com

I usually don’t watch much television, and I especially can’t stand most of the reality shows that my daughters try to watch after school. I tend to find something to do in the kitchen while they watch TV so that I can censor things when they start getting really weird, or at least I can have a discussion with my kids that will make them think about what they are watching and use it to make better choices in their own lives.

So it surprises me to find myself sitting down to watch VH1 these days. Maybe you’ve caught the show too - I Know my Kid’s a Star. Does it just blow you away that some parents are so crazy?! Some parents will do anything to help their child become a Hollywood star. Like the mom who has spent $35,000 and quit her job to promote her 12-year-old daughter’s career. And the bickering between moms is escalating as some moms are viciously trying to knock other parents off by taking them mentally out of the game. It’s getting nasty, ugly….and interesting.

 I think the show process is bogus - they have no credibility in their selection process. Last night they told the moms that they were being evaluated on how much they could help their children while, at the same time, they could get along well with other parents. What a crock! They kept the crazy, pain-in-the-*#$@ moms. If they didn’t, people wouldn’t tune in to watch. We don’t want to see sweet, vanilla personalities. We tune in to see crazy, obsessed and over-the-top. And, as much as I can’t stand to listen to Danny Bonaduce, I have to admit that I want to see this show to the end.

The setting may be Hollywood for this show, but I think we could place these characters in a sports environment and have a similar story. Have you ever run across crazy people and ugly situations with your kid’s sports leagues and teams? If not, you must be new to the sports-parent world or you haven’t been paying attention. I hate to sound negative, but ugly stuff happens and it is important to look at how our own words and actions impact the lives of our children and the people around us. Parents have good intentions for the most part, but we all make mistakes. It is a good idea to look in the mirror - or the TV - and look closely at how I support my own kids as they reach for their dreams - especially since “I know my kid’s a star.”