Animal Idol

Today, my soon to be 8-year old twin boys played Animal Idol.  I must admit it was pretty darn cute.  “Cuddles” the big brown bear won and “Blue Puppy” came in second place.  While I listened to them play the roles of judges and contestants, I started thinking that there was a lot to learn from watching American Idol.

My one son started off as the “mean” judge, “I am sort of like Simon,” he said.  My other son corrected his brother’s misbehaviors every step of the way, reminding him (and the animals of course) that “everyone is good in their own way.”  And “trying out for American Idol is really hard; it takes a lot of guts.”

The animals went through some tough moments, moments of heartache.  Ah, the pain when “Squeaky Dolphin’s” dream was squashed.  “Yellow Duck” hardly made it past his first chorus.  In today’s culture, wherein every kid gets a trophy just for playing in the league, rejection is rare.  This might be my boys’ first real glimpse of non-sugar coated life.

While I certainly don’t want my kids experiencing the real rawness of this rejection, at least not yet, I am seeing that the parallel process from this show has merit.  While one of my sons made sure that none of his animals were “laughed off the stage,” he processed all the related feelings.  

We read and talk about “building resiliency” in our youth today, but we work hard to shield them from the very experiences they need to build their calluses.  I know that I am certainly guilty of safeguarding my little boys from so many of life’s pains.  So for now, I guess the least I can do to expose them to the good, bad and ugly of the world, while also seat-belting them in every which way, is to let them watch American Idol.