Enough is Enough
Dear Frankie,
I have come to understand I’m not the dog my parents wanted me to be. That’s not to say I haven’t tried. They believe that a good education requires being exposed to all kinds of learning experiences and sports. How this translates to my life is every day after school I go to either art, music, or dance lessons. On the weekends, I play tennis or ski, depending on the time of the year, and sing in a local choral group.
The only time I have to do my homework is after dinner. Some days, I can hardly stay awake and have to get up at 5:30 the next morning to finish my assignments.
When I complain to my parents that I am exhausted, they say they would have killed to have had a childhood like mine and someday I will appreciate them for providing me a well-rounded education.
I don’t know if I can continue. I’m starting to feel like I am losing my sense of self. Some days, I dread waking up and facing the day I’m at a loss at what I should do.
Mo
Dear Mo,
Unfortunately, some parents see their children as an extension of themselves. Some want their children to fulfill their unrealized dreams and become what they weren’t able to achieve. Other parents want their children to experience all the things they wished they had when they were growing up.
This is often the basis for discord among children and their parents later in life.
Before your situation gets further out of hand, or in your case paw, I suggest you talk to the adults in your life who you think will take your concerns seriously and who would advocate on your behalf. The people that come to mind are your teacher, the principal, or the counselor at your school. You might also talk to your coach, the choral director, a family member, or the parent of a friend.
You need to make your concerns known.
If all else fails, I guess you can feign illness or flat-out refuse to continue participating in any activity outside of school. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this and your parents are able to see the errors of their ways and allow you to cut back to a more reasonable schedule.
Best, Frankie
© 2023 Geneva Woodruff
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