If you have a daughter anywhere between the ages of 8-18, I believe that Hannah Montana may be part of her vocabulary. In the generation of the Disney channel, it is Miley Cyrus who reigned supreme. I read somewhere that by the time Cyrus is 21, she will be worth a billion dollars (I’m not going to fact check so if I’m off by a million or two, forgive me). But now she seems to be a misguided 18 year old, racking up her fair share of embarrassing photos and experiences.
This morning, it is an interview that her father, country singer (and co-star) Billy Ray Cyrus gave that is all over the news. He regrets ever doing that “damn show.” He regrets that he was more of a friend than a parent. In fact, he would take all the fame and success back for his family to be “safe and sound and happy and normal.”
Hmmm… As a parent, this may be the best validation out there. In a world where little is glorified more than fame and fortune, when closets full of the trendiest clothes are the dream, we are given a moment to pause for thought. “Which person is wealthy?” Pirkei Avot asks us, “He that is satisfied with his lot.”
I casually let it drop this morning to my 10 year-old daughter that Billy Ray Cyrus was sad about being part of the show, Hannah Montana. He was sad about what it has done for his family. I was going for subtlety, but if I could have made the point any clearer I would have: normal is the new awesome.
What parent doesn’t dream of “safe and sound and happy and normal”?
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