My daughter has her entire life mapped out, I think I have to crush her dreams

“She won’t entertain any other option for her future,” concerned dad, Eddie, said. 

If your child has a life-long dream that you know will likely fail, do you let them dream, or give them a heads up before the harsh reality of life crashes down?

Ever since Georgia* was little, she’s always been obsessed with music. 

Her parents, Elizabeth* and Eddie*, have always been supportive of their daughter, but a new obsession has left them wondering if they should continue supporting her passion.  

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Georgia can't sing, but it won't stop her from dreaming. Picture: iStock

“If I don’t give her a reality check, she will be crushed anyway”

Music has always been a big part of the family’s life; the 11-year-old’s uncle is a professional musician and has watched his hard work closely. 

Throughout his journey as a musician, she has watched him practice endlessly and admired his efforts to get into the industry. 

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Georgia has also started learning the trombone, but her dad said she only practices “half-heartedly” and is begged” to practice by her parents.  

Despite not being interested in playing the instrument, it’s her real passion that has her parents worried. 

“My 11-year-old daughter is convinced she is going to be a professional musician/ singer,” Eddie wrote on Reddit. 

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See, the issue is that Georgia has no experience with vocal performing. “She never sings,” Eddie said. 

What’s more, Eddie said his daughter “won’t entertain any other option for her future”, despite only being 11 years old. But he thinks her love for music is only a phase, explaining she appears “lukewarm on what she says her ‘passion’ is.” 

Georgia is determined to become a professional singer, though, and won’t let anyone else tell her otherwise. 

“I know she’s only 11,” her father reasoned, “and I don’t want to crush her.” 

Despite wanting to support his daughter, “part of me feels like if I don’t give her a reality check, she will be crushed anyways.” 

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“Let her keep dreaming”

The thought of crushing an 11yo’s dreams was heartbreaking to most Redditors, who suggested Eddie leave the child alone. 

“Let her dream,” someone said. “She has plenty of time for reality to set in.”

“You don't have to do anything,” another agreed. “She'll be on to her next thing before you know it.”

“She's 11. She doesn't have to entertain ANY option for what her future is,” said a third.

“I was going to be an astronaut despite intending to do absolutely nothing towards that goal. It’s really okay!” someone noted.  

Many recommended letting her dream about the future she wants, otherwise she may resent her parents. 

“My mum talked me out of every dream job I had at that age,” read a comment. “And I resent her for it. So just let her keep dreaming.”

“My dad spent a lot of my childhood crushing my career dreams,” recalled another. 

“Though they were impractical, I don’t think it helped me. I spend a lot of my adulthood coping with low self-esteem.”

“At 11, I’d mostly let her dream, but with some casual guidance,” a parent suggested. “Support the dream, while presenting the exposure to reality.” 

*Names have been changed

Originally published as My daughter has her entire life mapped out, I think I have to crush her dreams