Dear Dr. Laura,
My husband and I think it is a valuable lesson to allow both of our children to fail. Our 18-year-old daughter has experienced quite a bit of failure, and it has only made her stronger. She is a serious modern dancer and will study dance in college. This was not our choice for her, but she is determined to make a life for herself in the performing arts, with backup plans A, B and C. This is a brutal, competitive world. She has auditioned for many different summer ballet and modern dance intensives over the years. She has been accepted to some fabulous programs, but she has also been rejected from some fabulous programs. It would have crushed me into dust at her age, but she has the personality to get through the auditions, take what she can from each one, and when the audition is over, for her, it is over. Each failure made her more determined to do better the next time, and it made her tough.
I haven't seen her chest in a while, but I bet it is as hairy as a gorilla's from all of the character building! Thank you for helping us all to build character.
Kali
