Is it really any surprise that Lynne Spears sees daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn as a piggybank? I recall reading reports of her pushing Britney into fame years ago, telling her how to act (i.e., seductively) and so on, and how this started causing strife.

It’s nothing new, and Lynne Spears is not the first parent to do this sort of thing - nor will she be the last. However, this seems to happen more to girls in entertainment and boys in sports. Tennis, hockey and even golf are often full of kids who got pushed by parents. Tiger Woods appeared on Mike Douglas’ talkshow when he was a cute little pipsqueak of three (if I recall correctly). He was already playing golf. Wane Gretzky’s father pushed him in hockey - though I believe Gretzky enjoyed.

The question is, what can you do to prevent more popwrecks like Britney Spears? Really very little, unless you have much influence over the parent who is pushing - it almost always is just one parent, who denied their own fame feels they have to push the kid.

If Lynne Spears is such a great mom like Dr. Phil claims, would Britney Spears be on the verge of suicide? Maybe. But now we have Jamie Lynn Spears, pregnant at 16 - possibly by a much older executive - and thrust into a limelight that she didn’t want. Maybe she, like many young girls who get pregnant do, was hoping this man could rescue her away from home.

My feeling is that parents should not manage their kids fame, beyond being there for them and encouraging them. But it’s not like we can or even want to legislate this.

Of course, maybe Lynne Spears is realizing that she can’t bank on her daughters anymore and so she’s planning to go ahead on finishing her parenting book, of all things. Hmm. I’m thinking maybe she’d better start saving her money.

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