43 www. ReadMPM. com | www. VOICE forRea l Es tate. com | www.MountPl easantBu i l der s . com There’s nothing that bonds a parent and child like a shared hobby. But whether right or wrong, many hobbies carry the weight of gender bias. Fishing and hunting are seen as “manly,” while dancing and singing are stereotyped as female interests. But outdated labels shouldn’t stop a boy mom or girl dad from having meaningful ties with their children. Here are the stories of three local children who found their passions through their parents’ pastimes, and one local teen who explored an unprecedented interest and bonded with his parents over his calling. PETER GHOLSON 11-year-old Peter Gholson grew up in a household of dancers and discovered his passion for dancing by watching others perform. “When he was little, he would follow his sisters’ dance classes or learn the routines they practiced with their friends in the basement,” said Kerry Gholson, Peter’s mother. While Peter’s love for dance was always prevalent, even from a young age, his mother said his desire to partake in organized dance came from witnessing Peace Love Hip-Hop perform during a break in the tennis action at Volvo Car Center. Kerry helped her son follow his calling by enrolling him in a hip-hop class, and he was immediately hooked. Kerry shared that while growing up, her own father was her “dance parent” and introduced her to Irish dancing, which she competed in, and she and her husband, Kris, enjoy watching Peter carry on the family tradition in his own genre of dance. Peter explained that what he loves most about dance is that “it is a way to forget about the world for a little bit,” and Kerry noted that “his eyes and face light up when he starts moving. It’s the kind of joy and energy that is contagious,” and the kind of joy every parent would love for their child to experience. ANNA AND EMILIE SAFFER Andrew Saffer’s daughters Anna (11) and Emilie (6) grew up watching him do TaeKwonDo. When they were old enough to participate, he encouraged them to begin taking family classes with him. Anna shared, “I like how during practice [TaeKwonDo] seems meditative, and I feel like any stress falls away. I also really like that I get to do it with my sister and my dad.” Andrew, an active participant in the sport since college, attained his fourth-degree black belt practicing under Master Jack Emmel (eighth degree) and Debby Gessert (sixth degree) and credits his daughters’ growing passion for the sport to these wonderful instructors and others at the Southeast Headquarters of the USA TaeKwonDo Masters Association (USATMA), operating out of the Isle of Palms Recreation Department. BY J ENNY HARR I SON Sharing Your Passion with Your Children Time to Throw Gender Stereotypes Out the Window feature 11-year - o l d Peter Gho l son grew up i n a househo l d of dancer s and d i scovered h i s pas s i on for danc i ng by watch i ng other s per form. Photo by Ke r r y Gho l son .
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