Parenting a Genius - Essay Example

It is a universal claim that people when born, are already endowed with gifts. These individual gifts are labelled as “potentials”. Most of the time these potentials are similar or not far from one’s lineage. Potentials are cocoons intended to develop into butterflies of talents. Without proper nourishment and ample effort to enhance these potentials, they are not given a chance to evolve into full-blown talents. A person’s ability is considered a talent when it exceeds the average. However, there are rare situations wherein the gift is a clear portrayal of superb talent at an early age. It does not only manifest as a mere potential because it enormously exceeds being above average. Hence, a gift becomes a miracle because it appears innate and needs less effort for its development.

People argue that if all are given potential, why do some individuals fail to develop their talents? The answer lies in the fact that while all people are bestowed with capabilities, not all have the passion for the enhancement of these capabilities. Talent and passion come hand in hand. Passion is the fuel that can nourish one’s talent. It is noteworthy, that there is a thin line that separates passion from talent. One may develop an interest in an area which is far from his potential. The stimulation of this passion is the key role that one’s environment plays. The surroundings contribute highly to a person’s development. One essential component of this environment is the home, which includes the parents. Parents are primary caregivers and the ones mainly responsible for igniting a child’s passion. A harmonious parent-child relationship fosters a positive environment. The resulting positivity at home is an atmosphere conducive to the refinement of a child’s talents. The movie Searching for Bobby Fischer is one of the films which vividly depicts how most parents react when they discover that their child is gifted. Most parents unknowingly transform from being supportive to being manipulative in helping their children optimize their talents. Sometimes, in pursuit of worldwide fame, they fail to give focus on values that are necessary for a child’s growth. Compassion is an integral value portrayed by the lead character Josh Waitzkin. It is his empathic nature that compelled him to choose not to win. The subliminal message of innocence and conscience transcends into the viewers. The film also contains a brief comparison of how a father and mother view their child. The father is eager for achievement like winning, while the mother is unconditional and focuses on his son’s feelings. In a heated argument, the mother is willing to take away her son for the sake of the latter’s freedom. Although the difference between a father’s and a mother’s love cannot be generalized, it touches on the fact that family dispute is unsuitable for a positive parent-child relationship. This, in turn, leads the audience back to the realization that home is a key factor in the development of a person’s character.

It is a common trend when a family’s passion is music that the children become inclined to music as well. This is the case for David Helfgott, an Australian pianist, to whom the 1996 film Shine centred upon. Director Hicks made an effort to bring Helfgott to the audience through the exploration of the deep core and complexity of the human character. It is with Helfgott’s father, that we came to realize that parents are human beings too - imperfect and vulnerable to egotistical mechanisms. Amidst these parental flaws, what is more, important is the parents’ ability to overcome such temptations. In the film Shine, the father tries associating his past by imposing tension upon his son. Helfgott’s father creates an authoritative ambience which seemed to be suffocating. As a consequence, Helfgott entangled himself with the pursuit of freedom which ultimately led to an emotional collapse. The mental breakdown of Helfgott opened the viewers’ eyes to the reality of how parents affect their children holistically. Their actions can bring their children into amelioration or deterioration.

Parents are indispensable factors in the development of a child’s potential. They are the ones who can make or break a child’s heart. It is the parent’s responsibility to invigorate the child to realize their God-given potential. Nevertheless, responsibilities come with limitations too. The responsibility of parents is to spark the flames of interest in a child’s mind. But this spark should not be flamed enough to burn the child’s innocence and corrupt the love for the craft. Over the years, the intricateness of man’s nature has implied that a man cannot be authoritatively persuaded. Every man is entitled to his own free will. Therefore, parents can act by stimulating the child’s imagination but they also must give the child the freedom to ascertain his talents and pursue what he truly wants. Movies like Searching for Bobby Fischer and Shine highlight the humanity of people born genius, the pressure they are confronted with and how they triumphed over the hindrances with the contribution of the people around them, especially their mentors and parents.