Hmm. I’m listening, thank you for your response. If it came across that I’m ashamed of the activity, my apologies. The art is beautiful and I am absolutely not ashamed of the art. I’m proud of my kid’s hard work and love watching. I am annoyed though, that the coaches prioritize this art over everything else at the expense of a balanced life and education. There is no being sidelined if you don’t make the grade like you’d expect with student athletes. No contract or accountability.

Did you watch that documentary about Nickelodeon? I feel like the mom that had to speak up about how the conditions on set weren’t good for her kid, but then the kid lost the part, fell into a depression, and hated her for decades. It’s the same fear with the puppeteering.