FAME-ously Lame Parenting

We all know the words, don't we? "Fame! I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna learn how to fly... high!" Question though... how can kids learn to fly high if their parents hold them back from their passion? Case in point - in the remake of "Fame", "Denise Dupree" played by Naturi Naughton has been training to be a classical pianist since she was a child; however, her true passion is singing. Her dad (and mom - simply because she doesn't want to defy her husband) is dead set on her being a classical pianist when she "grows up" regardless of what SHE wants to do. In the end, after seeing her sing on stage, they tell their daughter "We'll support you, no matter what". Why can't it always be that way? We hear so often "my daughter's going to be a surgeon" or "my son's going to be an lawyer". If the kids want to be a surgeon or a lawyer, then that's another story, but why can't parents ever ask their children what they want to do with their life, instead of telling them what to do? A parent/child relationship is supposed to consist of unconditional love, so whether a person wants to be a painter, an actor, a circus clown or the president of the United States, shouldn't parents do their best to support their child and help them succeed? Shouldn't parents honor their children's goals, interests and talents, even if they're completely different from their world of commercial real estate or accounting? If they did, perhaps more kids... more people would be less stressed and feel more satisfied with their lives. "Baby, look at me... and tell me what you see. You ain't seen the best of me yet. Give me time, I'll make you forget the rest." Perhaps parents should really listen to the opening lyrics of the "Fame" song, open their eyes and notice what their children truly have to offer the world. Maybe "Fame" is not so lame after all.