Be careful not to confuse encouraging with pushing. Too often I see parents who are actually discouraging their child by pushing the things they care about rather then letting the child fulfill his or her own desires. Sloane had to admit that she was pushing her favorite sport rather than supporting Lindy in doing what she wanted. When you encourage you inspire your child to be herself. If she has a dream, tell her it's a wonderful dream-no matter what.
Children have goals and ambitions of their own.
Your job is to cheer them on. And don't forget to recognize their efforts. In some families the child who messes up gets all the attention, so don't forget to give words of praise to the child who is quietly doing well. Such heartening words are music to the ears and echo the message. It's okay to discover who you are and to find out what you're all about.