No matter my child’s age on his/her birth certificate — and if he or she was drug–free, never arrested, kind, moral, and turned out good and was an artist still working hard on her or his dreams — going through rough financial times; maybe not all, but I would do everything to support him or her and encourage his/her art; especially knowing his/her good, strength and I raised a talented person who just hit a hard time!
I would never say, “no more help“ because you’re 50 or 60! Now if they were using the help for drugs or liquor or a life of prostitution or criminal activity … At any age, different story.
But an artist who just hasn’t had a break, yet and/or is between day jobs — yet, still trying — as long as I am alive and kicking, I love artists and would do all I could to help.
Encourage him, too — would NOT let others speak ill of him or her, or dictate how I help him or her, or tell her that her things are worthless or let others call her ungrateful just because she hit a hard time in middle age.
And I’d love him for believing in his dreams, pursuing them and knowing I am behind him, even if the whole world thinks it’s wrong to help him during the dark days when he is not as lucrative as he’d like to be — but I know he can and will be. Because he is talented, trying hard and pursuing his art. I’d support him despite all the people who feel it’s okay to punish a sensitive person who chose to do what makes him or her happy.
I would want my child, my law–abiding drug/smoke free, moral, unmarried and talented middle-aged or whatever age to be happy. And not tell him or her she SHOULD do what others wrongly believe is right…if it would make this person miserable to give up his/her art to be like everyone else!
I’d support her originality, her rainbow chasing and even little successes and her tenacity to still believe in dreams in her 50s or 60s…encourage her to never let her dreams die — never look at her birth certificate and say “You do not deserve help now that you hit 50“ and now you should “just give up“ because it’s too late.
I would tell him or her, a dream never dies — and it is NEVER too late until you are six feet under! And as long as I am alive, I will encourage, help when you ask, stand up for my incredible child to ANYONE who calls him lazy, ungrateful or tries to replace him in my life; and NOT allow them to tell me how much I can or should help MY CHILD. No matter his age, religion, beliefs or choice to continue to choose happiness and art!
Because I KNOW my child who has never once committed crimes, always asked for help and never went to jail or fell into prostitution, drugs or robbery — and was hurt when I chose other relatives over her very capable hands — choosing to dis–trust her over other people who have never lived her choices.
She is my child and I would choose to spend my final years working with her in every way possible — and not throw her away for any other relative who put her down wrongly — even if it meant me and her helping each other, and trusting her to work with me: Not allowing other relatives to take her out of my life legally or otherwise.
Because I know he, my child, is a wonderful artist, intelligent and has NEVER been ungrateful and I trust him as he trusts me.
And never accept anyone else’s opinion of my child, or advice for my law-abiding, highly intelligent, child. And would fix it, to the way he had asked, which worked, immediately, if I had hurt him by allowing certain relatives convince me WRONGLY that he would ever do what they said to me. If he didn’t do that in 50 years, why would he suddenly do it now … Unless someone hurt him and pushed him out of being worthy just because of a date on his/her birth certificate.
Hard times hit us all, and I would work together with my only child if he/she were a good person in every way; even if it means we both share income for a time and have to wait awhile for some extra stability.
Angela Theresa: Renaissance Woman 