Don’t Leave the Door Closed: A Letter to Parents About Opportunity

Thirty years ago, my parents said yes for me.

They didn’t overanalyse every opportunity.

They didn’t map out a five-year plan.

They didn’t ask whether each class, performance, or audition would “lead somewhere.”

They simply believed that experience mattered and if I was doing something I loved, there was worth and value in simply that.

Now, looking back, I realise something powerful-

Any single one of those yeses could have been pivotal in shaping my future.

That’s why I want to gently say this to parents today:

Don’t leave opportunities on the table for your children.

Not because every opportunity will change their life, make them famous or guarantee a career. But because one of them might.

Thirty Years Ago: Less Overthinking, More Belief

When I was growing up, if something came up- a class, a performance, an audition, a workshop, my parents didn’t spiral into “what ifs.”

They didn’t ask:

• What if she quits?

• What if she’s too nervous?

• What if it’s not worth the money?

• What if she’s tired?

• What if it doesn’t lead anywhere?

They asked something much simpler:

“Will this help her grow?”

And if the answer was yes — or even maybe — they supported it.

Not recklessly. Not carelessly.

But confidently.

They believed in passion, exposure to newness, getting experience and in letting me try.

And that belief

built something in me long before I ever realised it.

The Butterfly Effect of One Yes

What people often misunderstand about opportunity is that its not always a big stage or a life-changing announcement indicating or allowing for obvious change.

Sometimes it’s just the extra rehearsal that delivered added confidence, a small performance that’s in a random place, an audition or competition that you nearly don’t attend.

A workshop that stretches comfort zones or an event that feels inconvenient

Each one of those moments builds something-

Confidence

Resilience

Work ethic

Stage presence

Courage

Identity

And without you knowing it, one of those moments could become a turning point.

A teacher who notices potential.

The connection that leads to something bigger.

An experience that shifts belief.

If my parents had hesitated or doubted my teacher. Had they decided certain opportunities weren’t worth the effort. Or if they had protected me from every stretch… My entire path could have looked different.

That’s how powerful one yes can be.

Modern Parenting and the Fear of “Too Much”

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand parents today and the changes that the last 30 years have brought to society.

Life is busier and we have way more choices.

Money matters.

Schedules are full.

Energy is stretched.

We are more aware of burnout.

We are more protective of time.

We are all trying to get balance right.

All of this is absolutely important. However sometimes unintentionally, protection becomes limitation.

Sometimes we close doors before we’ve even looked behind them.

Children don’t see the long game.

They don’t understand which experiences build character, what builds resilience or recognise what shapes identity.

That’s our role as adults.

Thirty years ago, my parents didn’t need certainty. They only needed belief and trust.

This Isn’t About Creating Stars

This isn’t about raising professional dancers, chasing trophies and titles or pushing children into pressure.

It’s about exposure to experiences that may be new. Ones that

It’s about saying:

“Let’s try.”

“Let’s show up.”

“Let’s see what happens.”

Even if your child never pursues it professionally…

That first, second, third or 20th performance might be the moment they find their voice.

That audition might teach them bravery.

That workshop might introduce them to someone who shapes their confidence or inspires them.

That class might be where they discover who they are and find their tribe.

You cannot predict which moment carries weight.

You only know after you’ve walked through it.

The Quiet “What If”

Sometimes I think about this:

What if my parents had said no more often?

What if they’d said:

“It’s too far.”

“It’s too much.”

“It’s not worth it.”

“She might not even stick with it.”

Maybe nothing dramatic would have changed.

Or maybe everything would have.

That’s the thing about opportunity. It doesn’t come labelled as “life-changing.” It just comes packaged as effort.

Final thoughts…

So the next time something comes up, pause before dismissing it.

Ask yourself:

Is this truly not right for my child?

Or am I protecting them from discomfort?

Am I protecting my schedule?

Am I underestimating what this could build?

You don’t have to say yes to everything.

But don’t close doors too quickly.

Because thirty years ago, my parents said yes for me. And every one of those yeses carried the potential to shape my future. Some of them did.

And your child will never know what was behind the door if it’s never opened.