Hey Josh

Hey, your parents are only trying to do what’s best for you, but you have to remember that even they aren’t perfect. What you should do is sit them down and tell them to stop talking and listen for 10 minutes. Explain to them that you will try to look for something other than acting for 1 week. Tell them if you can absolutely not find anything else, you will stick with acting whether they like it or not. You should find work in something you love. Not something someone else approves of. Remember that and you should have a successful life. If they still don’t support it, tough. Sooner or later you’ll be making the decisions of your life, and the sooner you start making mature ones and good ones, the better. You’ll get more experience that way, but that doesn’t always work out because you have to learn how to make mature and good decisions. You should also try to look at the situation from their perspective. Tell them you would like their help in looking for something else but you will always stick with your own decision. If you don’t like the job, don’t stick with it. It won’t work out.

Um. I hope I covered everything I want to. I always seem to forget something or think I’m forgetting something when I’m writing these

Hope I helped,
James

I think that to some degree, your parents are trying to look out for you, and do what’s best for you. From what I understand, acting is a tough business to get into, and you have to really stinkin’ good at it to get anywhere. You said yourself that you aren’t particularly amazing, so your parents may be trying to help you do something that you will be more successful at.

That said, they are doing it in a way that could be classified as “really lame”. Comparing you to your brother, especially in public, is pretty low, and something that I don’t think is really ok. you deserve to be seen as an individual person, and not just compared to your brother (or anybody else, for that matter).

I think that James here has the right idea: Try doing something else for a bit, maybe in addition to the acting, maybe in the place of it. I would suggest trying it for more than a week though. Depending on what it is, I would suggest trying this “new thing” for somewhere between 2 weeks and 2 months. If you really don’t like it, drop it after 2 weeks. If you do like it, don’t completely devote yourself to it for 2 months. Some things seem fun at first, but fade pretty quickly.
Also, stay open and honest with your parents. Whatever you decide to do, lay out your plan to them before you start, and let them know how things go.

Oh, and Rose, remember that you are only 14 years old. You’re going to be growing up and changing a lot in the near future. Remember to keep a cool head on your shoulders, and not get swept up in arguments or feuds with other people. Those won’t help at all.

You said you are 14 years old? At 14, your parents should be encouraging you to do the things you enjoy. Whether they think it’s best or not, doesn’t matter, they should encourage you to try, especially if they are allowing your brother to do it. Ask them to sign you up for some acting classes to help you improve, or write your own play/movie or whatever and star in it, then when it’s finished, show it to them, prove that you have what it takes. Parents are supposed to support their children and help them grow, not hinder them from exploring something that they love.

Don’t give up on acting, but don’t be afraid to broaden your horizons, for sure. Don’t make this about proving your parents wrong or comparing yourself with your brother. If acting is your only love, then I’d be surprised. I love to act. love it. but like you, Im just pretty good. Nothing broadway worthy. and I can’t sing…
but the point is, my love of acting and watching plays took me to a love of writing and directing plays. And then a love of writing, period. now I can shoot for careers in half a dozen different career fields that are nearly impossible to get into! (woohoo!) so if you decide to look at other interest, look at interests close to your original passion.
I’m really sorry your parents are so tough on this point. There’s a chance that if you start developing your talent in a different but related area, they’ll be able to appreciate it. There’s also a chance that they won’t. Take this time to find what you love best and go for it.

You’re 14. That’s the age when you really start to find yourself. YOu will feel a bit lost at the beginning, but amazingly you have found something you love doing; acting. It’s important to remember that this is YOUR life, not your parents’ lives. Parents are quick to forget that. I think they may be trying to relive their youth through you, and perhaps feel that although you are good at acting, you may have an exceptional talent elsewhere. However, the fact that they yell at you suggests that they also have issues they need to deal with. Nobody is perfect, and that includes your parents. Whatever you do, don’t forget your dreams. Hold on to them and turn them into goals, and then pursue those goals. I know you can do it. There’s no such thing as a bad actor. It’s just a matter of practice. it comes easier tosome people than others. I recently directed a group of 12-14 year olds in a Shakespeare’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream…..When they first walked into that audition i was worried….most of them had never acted before, and had no idea what shakespeare was trying to say. A few months later after hours of effort and practice put into it, I sat there on opening night and my heart swelled to watch them. They had come so far….But it took lots of determination, and practice and guidance. If you want to improve, try taking an acting class, or get involved at school. Its that extra exposure to media nad drama that make all the difference. Best of luck to you Rose!! I’m sure in a few years when you’re a big star your parents will be sitting there saying to anyone who will listen, ” Thats my girl!” Goodluck!

Hey Rose,
like you my parents don’t support me 110% also…we’re on the same page,
but you can prove to them that you can be the best actor that you can possibly be, NEVER GIVE UP on something you can’t go a full-day without thinking about, and always remember it’s YOUR LIFE not their’s.. you are the pilot of your own life, in the end no matter what others say about you, your still the one who’s gonna make the decisions.. Life isn’t about having a job and making money because money fades, so do the things you love so you wouldn’t have any regrets.. BETTER TO TAKE OPPORTUNITIES NOW, BECAUSE 10-20 YEARS FROM NOW YOU’RE GONNA LOOK BACK AND BE MORE DISAPPOINTED ON THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO, THAN THE THINGS YOU DID.
so take up some training in school, and community theater..then let them watch you perform in front of hundreds of people, show them that you have what it takes…

hope this helps you to be motivated.

-Josh

Take the passive aggressive approach and just tell them that since they THINK your not good that they should support you by letting you take classes. Bring up that it wouldn’t be fair for your brother to succeed and for you to not even be given the chance to try.
Never let any one tell you what you can and can’t do. This is your life for YOU to make your own mistakes and accomplishments. Go after your dreams no matter what anyone tells you. You are fully capable of your hearts desires. And I’m sure there will be times that you feel like a complete failure, but I’ll let you in on a little secret— we all feel like that from time to time! Good luck!

Hey,

I went through something similar to you. Im 17 years old and i wanted to go away to college but my mom would even let me think about it or talk about it. I, like you, tried to calmly talk to her about it in a mature way but she would end up yell and making me feel so guilty for asking. One day i decided enough was enough. i was going to do it with or with out her help. But i wanted to give her one last shot to support me and i pretty muck laid it all out for her to hear, i even started yelling at her saying that she was putting what she wanted ahead of what i needed. the next thing i know we were signing my acceptance to my number one college.

So try something like that. And if they still wont support, them prove them wrong. SHOW them that you are more than good eough.

Rose no matter what anyone says just follow your dream you know whats right for you not your parents just go out there and prove them wrong.You parents probably already know that your better then your brother but their not sure what to say but like i said before just follow your dream only you and God knows whats right for you no one else.

Man! Your parents are being harsh! But don’t let them put you down! My parents try to stop me from tumbeling. I don’t let them. Tell your parents acting is all you want to do! Even if your not perfect at it, at least you’ll have fun! So sorry to hear what your going through! Hope your bro doesn’t keep getting treated like roallty! Have fun acting! !

Dear, Josh
My parents had 6 kids, i am the middle child.My parents dont let me do anything,its like they need to know where i am all the time! Even thought all my other siblings get do too do what they want all the time.For example:My sister “Amber”[older than me] she gets almost everything she wants, and she gets to do what she wants.What my parents dont know is that they are giving her aloTT more stuff than everyone else, and that she always gets to go places and i have to stay home and watch the two little kids and not get to go somewhere with my friends.This happens almost every summer, and it is getting on my last nerve!. And what i know of is that they do not trust me at all.I just want things to be equal and not opposite.I want them to treat me like they treat my sister for once,and just let me go out for two week and let my sister see how it is for me every day that she is gone and i have to watch the kids.”What should i do to make them trust me?”, and ” how do i tell my parents that they are spoiling her too much and not letting me go anywhere and letting her go everywhere is not fair at.
Lauren, US♥