Do I let my son go down the childstar root?

[Anonymous]

I had my son when I was very young at only 16 and ever since its just been me and him. My family kicked me out and as soon as I told the farther he ran.

We've struggled but he's a really special boy and we are extremely close. I've always put him first and Ives worked my arse off to provide for us.

He's 9 now and I finally feel stable. We have apartment in a good area and I have a good job I'm hoping to eventually buy us a house for us.

The thing is my boy is extremely talented, like crazy talented he's amazing at singing. I myself love music but I have no musical background whatsoever.

I first realised when he was watching a Disney movie and he was singing along I was in the kitchen and I thought I was going crazy untill I noticed it was him signing.

I've always tried to keep humble and not fill his head with ideas but others have heard him sing now and he's getting a bit older. Everyone even his teachers keep telling me what a special little talented boy I have. I've been approached by a couple of record labels who want to work with him now because I've started letting him perform just for fun I'm not trying to get money out of him.

When he hears these people have been approaching us he gets all excited and thinks he's gonna be a rock star but I try to ease him away from it and I'm the bad guy.

People tell me I'm crazy for no saying yes to these people but he's my son and I want him to have a good childhood not like the one I had but it would also mean a better life for us and would get us out of being poor.

[Genie23]

I wouldn't let my child work especially not as an artist or an actor until he or she is 18.. Why? Because most of these child stars when they grow up resent the fact that they never got to be a child or have a normal childhood and teenage years. That their innocence was taken away too soon by the managers, staff, stardom, expectations to behave in a certain way, going to parties and stuff. They start taking drugs and get addicted to alcohol to numb down the pain and frustration and to escape the people and stardom... Most of these kids go wild.. and by the time they realise that they're in their middle age regretting wish they wouldn't have started working at such a young age and had a normal childhood instead.

He has plenty of time to pursue his singing career. You are doing the right thing by protecting him.

[hbg84]

You'd be dumb to let your child become a child star. So few child stars make it to adulthood and end up normal. Especially with rampant pedophilia in the entertainment business.

You should encourage him to pursue music if he wants to. But only in a school setting. Even then you should talk to him about predatory adults and how to spot them and avoid then.

[riverrat3]

Tough choice