Parents want what’s best for their children. Sometimes, that desire is transformed into control, silencing true self-expression. Many children fall in line out of fear of disappointing their parents. However, this selfless devotion and blind dedication robs children of their shot at true happiness. Every child should be able the author of their own story, but some lack the courage to step into the light.
Manolo was one such child. With a heart that yearned to sing and play the guitar, he was weighed down by the family expectation of becoming a bullfighter. Early, Manolo showed the potential to become a legendary bullfighter, so his father pushed bullfighting on Manolo. Despite all of that, Manolo was determined to always sing from his heart.
In pursuit of the woman of his dreams (Maria), Manolo intentionally loses his first official bullfight. Deciding that love was more important than his family’s expectations, Manolo stepped out from the shadow of his family, but the cost to pursue his heart was exile.
After being duped by Xibalba (ruler of the The Land of the Forgotten), Manolo died and was taken to The Land of the Remembered. He learns that a bandit plans to destroy his home town and Maria may end up marrying the wrong man to stop it from happening.
The only way back is for Manolo to conquer his worse fear, killing the thousands of bulls his family has killed over the generations. Manolo, determined to get back to Maria and save his town, accepted the task. However, Manolo realized that if he killed the bulls he would lose himself in the process.
The bulls weren’t Manolo’s worst fear, but rather, being himself, against his family’s wishes, terrified him. Knowing the truth, Manolo replaced his sword with his guitar and stepped out of his family’s shadow and into his own light.
It’s never to late to pick up the pen and write our own story, even if that means singing to an undead raging bull.
When did your children go against your expectations? How did it turn out? What did they learn? What did you learn?