Maybe your kid is into weird stuff. Maybe their heavy metal band sucks —or their talents as a rapper are almost offensive. Maybe you can’t stand the shows they like, or maybe their dream is an unlikely one at best. Or maybe they are supremely skilled and have what it takes to go pro. Maybe with the right prodding and the right support they could be truly special, and you just need to make sure they don’t slack off and miss the opportunities they need for that to happen.
But is that really your most important job? Your first job is to be a fan. Just a fan. Of them. Of their talents or lack thereof. Of their chances or lack thereof.
They don’t need a drill sergeant in the living room. They don’t need someone calling them out. They don’t need someone telling them the hard truths. They don’t even necessarily need your money to put them in that fancy league. They don’t need you to berate their teachers and demand special treatment. They don’t need you to be obsessed.
What they need is a fan. They need someone who supports them, who loves them, who is rooting for them. They need a fan with a healthy relationship to the game—not a stalker or a tyrant.
Just be a fan. It’s not that complicated.