to hate kids being 'put on display'

[sherbetpips]

My DH family have an awful habit of always expecting the kids to stand up and do some sort of entertainment at any family gathering we have. I have watched the older nephews and nieces go through it and now attention is being turned to the younger ones - mine included. It was excrutiating to watch his cousin being forced to read out a speech he gave at school no less than 8 times until he got it right (he is 7 and barely speaks as it is) at a 50th party yesterday. Then listen to him being admonished endlessy for not making enough effort. Does anyone else make their kids play instruments/sing/read poems they have written?

Poor Bosses kids. Bastard! All very well if the kids WANT to perform, but if like me they never did it's so mean to make them. I was forced to learn the violin and perform at school concerts - bloody solo - until I was 15. At 15 I told my Mum they were totally wasting their money on lessons as I was never going to pick up the violin turn up to a lesson again once I had left home to go to Uni . If they had been a bit more relaxed about it I might have carried on. They let me stop after that!