5 Minutes for Mom

What Have You Given Up for Your Kids’ Goals? #TheHouseMovie #giveaway

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Jennifer Donovan here with a post about a very real part of my current life in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures.

I can relate to the trailer of The House so much! I will definitely be seeing this movie when it comes out in theaters June 30. College is something that looms over most parents, thinking about letting go and about meeting that new financial challenge. If you think diapers and baby gear is expensive, just you wait.

My daughter just finished her first year of college at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). They are one of a handful of universities that have strong academic programs and strong arts programs, which worked perfectly for her goals of earning a professional studio art degree. Her dad and I supported her goals and decisions, and after an amazing freshman year, it’s clear that this is the perfect place for her to learn and grow as a person and an artist. She’s gotten involved in many ways, met wonderful friends, and been challenged academically.

That said, being an out-of-state student at an elite university is not inexpensive. Because we began saving money early on, we were able to say yes to this dream, instead of the much-less-expensive state school that we always assumed would be her college home (Gig ’em Aggies!). We have not had to do anything crazy to make her dream a reality, rather it’s been years of choices that provided us with the funds to make it happen.  Years of driving cars for a lot longer than normal and buying houses that left us a little wiggle room in the budget for extra savings.

In addition to the finances, there were other small sacrifices like driving her to art competitions and outside art classes, picking her up after school for art club, and supporting her in those many late nights as she completed her rigorous AP art assignments.

If a child has a dream or a talent, it takes work and perseverance on the part of the parents and the child. What kind of sacrifices have you made to help your children achieve their dreams?

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler star in a new movie, The House, in theaters June 30. I can’t wait to see their crazy efforts to regain their daughter’s college fund.

About the movie

After Scott and Kate Johansen (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler) lose their daughter Alex’s college fund, they become desperate to earn it back so she can pursue her dream of attending a university.  With the help of their neighbor Frank (Jason Mantzoukas), they decide to start an illegal casino in his house.

The comedy “The House” also stars Nick Kroll (“Vacation,” TV’s “Kroll Show”), Allison Tolman (TV’s “Fargo”), Michaela Watkins (TV’s “Transparent”), Ryan Simpkins (“Arcadia”), Jessie Ennis (TV’s “Veep” and “Better Call Saul”), Rob Huebel (“Horrible Bosses 2,” TV’s “Transparent”), Cedric Yarbrough (TV’s “Reno 911!”) and Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner (“The Town,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Arrival”).

Rated R

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #TheHouseMovie

Giveaway

As parents, we love supporting our kids. It’s our job — but sometimes we need a night out. Warner Bros pictures would like to treat one winner to a wild night out at the movies to see The House.

Enter below.


Comments

  1. I always wanted to be a vet. I didn’t achieve that goal but still love animals.

  2. The dream I had when I was a kid was always to grow up and be a mother. Silly, I know, but I haven’t been able to conceive and it’s getting discouraging!

  3. To be able to scuba dive was my dream as a child and I learned how to later on in life.

  4. I never felt like I was giving anything up when I was able to do something for my daughter.

  5. My daughter wanted to go into a career of math – there are not that many positions out there but I stuck by her side.

  7. My daughter is only 1, but I am helping her accomplish her dream of playing with bubbles every day. She is obsessed.

  10. My dream as a child was to see the world which I have accomplished on a large scale.

  11. My son always wanted to be a nurse. I supported him and let him practice on me even with IV’s…. ouch. Now he a pediatric trauma nurse at Detroit Children’s Hospital.

  12. Always wanted to learn about other cultures and try new things. Haven’t really got to travel yet but watch lots of shows and movies of other places and try new foods as much as possible.

  13. My nephew wants to be a doctor. I only hope that the dream can hold on with all the obstacles in between time.

  14. My 11 year old wants to be a chef. So we are watching cooking shows, reading cook books and helping out. she is really becoming a good cook

  17. When I was young I always wanted to be a Mom someday and I have had five awesome kids

  18. When I was 6/8 year old I wanted to become a dubber, the manner in which they changes voice to give a life to character fascinated me.

    Furthermore, I loved traveling , usually with my parent we used to travel often around Italy and that passion it’s began to grow, in fact I wanted to discover other countries and broaden my horizons creating my future outside and marry with a person of another place. I thought it should be beautiful and perfect to combine two cultures in one (yes too young to think that, I used to like to dream and imagining story of my own life in my mind).

    Today everything has changed. Just one thing it’s still remained from my childhood and it’s create my future abroad :).

  19. My older kids love going to conventions and dressing up in homemade costumes, we take special trips so they can get to experience that.

  25. My daughter wants to go to colledge so she can get a great job, so we have set up a account so she can go and not have to worry about paying for it.

  27. Going to college. No one in our family has really went to college. A couple of us has done community college for a couple of years but did not receive degrees.

  29. My dream as a child was to become a jungle tour guide or live in a town or village close to a jungle. But now…not so much. Sounds a little dangerous.

  32. I do not have any kids but when I was young I wanted to be an actress, still do tbh lol.

  34. I don’t have children, but a dream I had as a child was to grow up and be a rock star. Didn’t happen, the rock star part.

  35. My oldest child will be leaving for college in a few weeks. We are hoping that she will be the first in our family to graduate with a degree.

  37. My son wants to be a chef so I enrolled him in as much cooking classes as I can and he also helps me cook at home

  38. My daughter dreams of being a professional animator, and I’m helping her reach that dream by providing her with lessons and the tools she needs to learn and practice. The hard work and determination, though, that’s all her.

  39. I’m helping my daughter to find work. She just graduated from high school and we’re going through the application process and such, hoping she’ll find something to accommodate her upcoming college schedule.

  42. I have an artist and a musician and we are constantly helping foster their creativity in their fields and gently pushing them the explore their chosen loves…

  44. I do not have any children yet, but I encourage my nephew’s creativity. I am not sure what his dreams are yet because he is still very young.

  46. It is very simple. I stand by them whatever they decide. Sometimes I don’t think it is a good idea, some of the things they come up with, but it is their dream and not mine. I will be there in any way I can. Follow your dreams…..

  47. Growing up I wanted to be a veterinarian. I changed my mind my when I job shadowed one my senior year though!

  48. My son wants to be a scientist. He’s going into first grade now. So I have helping him observe and create hypothesis for his everyday world.

  50. I wanted to show my guys that they could get a college education, with no student debt, if they were smart with their money. I also ended up getting a roundtrip ticket to visit my son in Japan for free.

  51. I’m helping my kids learn the solace of responsibility. Thanks for the chance.

  52. When I was a child my dream was to be a writer. It’s a dream that I haven’t made a ton of progress on as I’ve grown older, but it’s always in the back of my mind. I still hope to achieve it one day, it’s never too late!

  55. My kids are both very young, so they haven’t come up with dreams to follow yet. As they grow, I will do my best to encourage them the best I can.

  56. My daughter was always reading and writing, so I encouraged her to be a writer. After completing her English Major, she has been published in small publishing houses quite a few times. This is her passion and she continues to write. Hopefully, one day the writing will support her instead of just giving her “Vacation Money”.

  57. My daughter wanted to move to the city, so I helped her do that. She decided that she likes our rural area once she was there, so she’s coming back home today and setting some new goals.

  60. I help my children get good grades so that they can achieve their dreams in the future.

  64. Saving up for my kids college funds to help there dreams to whatever career they want.

  65. My daughter wants to get in your daughter rival school her heart is set on Michigan State, we have worked hard with SAT prep and I have encouraged her with community service

  68. Christian has a dream of being A ninja turtle! LOL So i made him an outfit and a Michelangelo was born!

  70. my kids are young but I will help them with any dream they have. i want the world for them.

  72. My daughter says shes wanting to grow up to be a WWE wrestler.. oh lord my nerves already tore up lol

  73. I am currently helping my daughter set up an etsy account to sell her artwork.

  76. I have helped him become more confident in his abilities by allowing him to make mistakes and realize it is alright.

  78. My parents gave me the opportunity to get a higher education. I went to 2 and will hopefully give the same chance to my child.

  81. My daughter enjoys dancing so I took an extra job to pay for her dance lessons.

  82. I am currently helping my Granddaughter achieve her dream of being in gymnastics.

  83. My daughter is only 6 months old. My mom encouraged me to go to college and helped me with finances and support.

  86. My dream as a child was to travel across the US visiting every state. I was saving all of my dimes towards that goal.

  89. My son wants to one day be a Taekwondo teacher, so we take him to Taekwondo class every Saturday.

  92. my son wants to be a welder so i traded my LP records for one so he can practice.

  95. I’m helping, supporting, and guiding my kids in making the correct path to their dream occupations and long term goals.

  96. After 27 years of marriage and 3 children, my daughter finally decided that there was some point to my desire for her to continue her education and started working on her college degree. Her husband was not particularly supportive, but for the first time did not put any real roadblocks in her way (he had done so in the past), so I became a safety net for some of her responsibilities, since as a person with some learning disabilities she needed to be able to really concentrate on her studies. She has now graduated with her bachelor’s degree and is planning to work on a master’s –which is needed for her ultimate goal of being a school counselor.

  98. I’m helping and supporting my kids to let them know they can be anything and so anything they want.

  99. My daughter’s dream to be a soccer player (she is in a competitive league now) and we indulge my son’s dream of becoming a famous U-Tuber. He posts some pretty silly stuff!

  100. My daughter loves to bake so i support her baking by putting her in classes, and buying her supplies.

  102. What is one of your children’s dreams you are helping them achieve?
    My daughter has an LPN and is going to school for an RN degree, I have been helping her financially since she is out of state.

  103. My nephew has a dream of becoming a professional athlete so I am paying for his trainer.

  109. My son inspired to be a NFL player, I called the colleges, looked for every football camp I could find and any events that were pertaining to football.

  111. right now my daughter is really into fashion and wants to design clothes so i bought her a ton of books to help her start out.

  113. Mine are so young that their dreams change on a weekly basis. at the moment I try to go with the flow and enroll them in activities that support those dreams, even if they are short lived 😉

  114. My daughter wanted to be a professional dancer I bank rolled that ….she works at a computer firm but she can dance really well LOL

  116. I am helping my daughter achieve her dream of being a musician by taking her to music lessons multiple times a week and listening to her practice her instruments at all hours of the day.

  118. my son is learning to play the guitar whichis taking some time but its something hes done since he saw one when he was 3 like hell pick it up for a few months and then its like well maybe he needs a break soi just tell him how well the music make me feel is sopretty then hell pick it back up so its time consuming

  119. My son is learning how to play the guitar which is a wonderful experience at any age and can be used in many ways. We go to lessons every week and practice daily.

  120. My daughter is 11 and she changes her mind often, right now it’s a dog dr. only no other animals.

  121. My daughter loves creative writing, so we’ve been encouraging her to write fan fiction. She posts it on a fanfic site and gets a lot of validation from it.

  122. My dream growing up was to become an airline hostess, I did the next best thing I worked in reservations for an airline and enjoyed the travel benefits.

  123. My son is young (16 months) but we have started saving money in a bank account in his name so that he can put it towards college and not be in as much debt as we were!

  124. My daughter wants to be an anime artist so I buy her supplies and encourage her.

  126. I wanted to be a fashion designer. I did learn to sew at a young age, and have kept at it. I do love to make things, especially for other people, but didn’t become a career fashion designer – only for fun!

  128. Kids change their dreams constantly, so all you can do is to support and encourage them. Educate them what it would take to fulfill their dreams so that they have a better understanding what is involved in attaining their dreams. Be there for them and guide them.

  129. Our son went to college for two years to become a chef. He is travelling the world working as a chef until he turns 30. He has lived in western Canada, New Zealand and is currently in Australia. We need to assist him financially, at times, especially with purchasing health insurance but we are happy to help.

  131. I try to keep my sons in sports to get them into college with sports if they are not as good with academics.

  132. I guess I am helping my child achieve their dreams of singing since I encourage them to participate in singing clubs and activities.

  133. For me as a child it was honestly going to college. My parents weren’t able, and I always wanted to go and so they saved for years and pinched pennies so that I could.

  134. I am making sure my son achieves good grades for him to attend a good college of his choice.

  135. One of my dreams as a child was to take care of my family. I have been a caregiver for yrs to everyone that needed it.

  137. My dream was always to be a writer… so blogging is kind of the same, right? 😉

  139. My childhood dream was to be a ballerina. I’m not though 😛 but that’s okay.

  141. I dreamed of going to college and being able to focus on school instead of working. My parents gave up a lot financially to ensure that I was able to do that.

  142. My sons dream is to become a great football player. I support him by being there at all of his games and and getting him support by signing him him up for football camps.

  146. My daughter’s dream is to succeed in music and I’ve helped her by being her accompanist.

  149. My dream as a child was to become a teacher. I didn’t follow that career path but right now my 7yr old daughter says she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. We will encourage her every step of the way. Just as now we ask her if there is anything she wants to join& when she does we will support her:)

  150. My son would like to achieve the Eagle Rank in boy scouts so I help him fulfill the requirements that he needs to meet, such as volunteering and the meetings.

  151. Our youngest daughter just bought a run down house and we helped her turn it into her HOME with a lot of sweat equity!!

  153. My daughter is taking photography classes she loves taking photos of people and animals.

  154. My dream was to become a doctor. I didn’t make that, but I did become a nurse.

  155. I will support anything my children wants to do. I will teach them be nice! <3

  158. My dream was to be an artist. my kids are two and seven months, so no dreams yet.

  159. I am helping my child achieve their dream of going to college by setting aside funds everyday to pay for them when they are old enough.

  165. My daughter wants to play basketball and i promised myself i would never be a “pushy dad” about sports so i let her make her on mind up but she does love basketball so i help her out and do all the drills that i used to do

  166. My daughter wants to be a gymnast so I’m helping her by having her in gymnastics classes!

  168. My daughter loves art. We buy her things to paint and draw. She is an amazing artist. We also enroll her in classes.

  169. I always wanted to enter pageants as a child but my mother never had enough money so Im finally entering one

  171. I don’t have any kids. My dream was to become an actress…. of course that didn’t happen!

  174. I’m helping my daughter achieve her figure skating dreams! So rooting for her and am her biggest cheerleader. I never want to push her too hard, but she has such passion for the sport and I think she can make it to an elite level. As long as she is still having fun, I will support her 100%!

  175. My son loves math and excels in it. He has plans to go into electrical engineering and so I’m trying to encourage him to pursue any activities related to that in anticipation of college.

  176. I’ve helped my son achieve his dream of being a great runner. We moved from one town to another when he was a freshman so he could run for that school’s Cross Country and Track teams. Now he will be attending a local university on a running scholarship. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

  178. My kids are very small but my mom always provided everything she could to feed my love of fiber and now im a fiber artist with my own business. and she still continues to encourage me as an adult and help me brainstorm new ideas!

  179. I helped my son achieve his dream of studying abroad last semester in Seville, Spain

  182. My daughter wants to be a chef. I will send her to culinary school and cook all she wants at home.

  183. My dream when I was a child was to be a veterinarian. I was always (and still am) fascinated by animals. Thanks for the opportunity.

  184. Our children are grown. However, my husband & I worked long & hard to see that they graduated college and then graduated from Graduate School.

  185. As a Child, first I wanted to be Speed Racer, then I wanted to be the Green Hornet, then I wanted to be a Astronaut like Major Matt Mason. I was influenced by TV and Toys, LOL

  187. My Granddaughter wants to be a magician, her Mother did it, so I’m gathering materials so she can learn. She may not perform in public like her Mother but she is so excited. She wants to be a Veterinarian when she grows up so I’m gathering all types of books on animals so she can read about them as she grows up. My Grandson is still too young to have a dream of the future, but I will be there with his Parents and to help him follow his dream.

  188. My girls have a dream of showing horses. So we now have horses and they are living their dream. Its wonderful to see your children living their dream and working hard for it.

  190. My son has a big interest in music, and wanted to be a drummer, so I have enrolled him in drum lessons.

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  191. I started saving for my daughter’s college education when she was born and was able to help her go to the college of her choice. She graduated last June, phew!!!

  192. Our oldest son wants to be an engineer, so both my husband and I are working two jobs each to help pay the costs of college.

  193. My dream as a child was to be a detective, like Nancy Drew. Instead, I’m a database administrator, but, hey — I still get to solve mysteries; I just use numbers and data instead of lurking in hidden staircases 🙂

  194. I dreamed of being a ballerina when I was little. I was a dancer, but I had a different career.

  195. My daughter wants to grow up and become a chef so I am teaching her how to cook.

  196. My daughter wants to work with animals so I got a zoo season pass with backstage access!

  197. I’m not sure what my son’s dreams are, because he still can’t talk yet. My dream was to be someone who made a difference in the world. My mom did whatever she could to help me follow whatever crazy passion I was pursuing at a given time.

  199. My son wants to be a zoologist when he gets older, we spend a lot of time learning about animals and how to care for them.

  200. My biggest dream as a child was to be a teacher. Never made it, but have a teacher niece now.

  201. As a child I dreamed of traveling to Africa. When I got older I started to save a little money each month and was finally able to take the trip 3 years ago.

  202. No kids, but I’m an honorary grand mother to my husband’s three grand kids! All three want to go to college so we have set up a savings account for them. Julie want to be a Zoo Keeper.

  203. My kids are young still and I don’t think they know what their dreams are yet, but when they know I plan to help them . 🙂

  205. Hi there to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this weblog; this weblog
    includes awesome and truly fine information in favor of readers.

  208. My kids are still pretty young, but I think letting them try a lot of different activities to see what they love helps them learn.

  209. My daughter loves skating – we have given up a lot of our time at the rink – but it’s worth it because of how important it is to her.

  210. My son LOVES basketball. So we have been signing him up for training and a summer league. We have also signed him up for travel basketball.

  213. I’m doing everything I can for my kids, including helping my two daughters get into the colleges and careers of their dreams, and helping my son live in an RV when he’s all grown up (saving $$). 🙂 Cool giveaway!

  217. We helped my Son while at college,to get a degree & now he’s in Homeland Security!

  218. My son wants to play football and the other soccer. I am practicing with them and signed them up for teams!

  219. I helping my daughter collect all the shopkins, silly dream, but we buy her some when we can!

  220. My son wanted to become a doctor. My husband and I have helped put him through six years of college. He passed the boards (law and pharmacy) and is now a Doctor of Pharmacy. We couldn’t be any prouder.

  222. I am helping my youngest son with his dream of getting his college degree in game design after he graduates high school.

  223. My 11 year olds dream is to do really good in school and go on to Columbia University and major in forensic sciences. when she graduates from there, she wants to go into the air force and do crime scene investigation. So, we bury ourselves paying for private school for a better education, and krav maga classes so she can defend her self down the road when need be.

  224. The kids are grown up now.
    I cannot recall any times that you mentioned.
    thank you

  225. I don’t have any children. I would help them out any way they needed if I did.

  226. I helped my son get a 72 Nova as his first car. He worked really hard and I felt he deserved it.

  227. My daughter and I went on a college tour recently. She fell in love with the school and the area. I will help her with the application process and pray she gets in!

  228. I wanted to play college hockey, which I did. My son wants to play football so we coach his team and encourage him to work hard, if that’s what he wants to do.

  229. Our parents put 4 of us through college and we in turn put all our kids through college too. Some of them have extra letters to their names now like PhD or Doctor. Now we are helping the Grands achieve the same goals.

  231. I”m paying for his college so he can fulfill his dream of becoming a paramedic.

  232. I always dreamed of owning my own home. I achieved this with the help of my husband.

  234. I helped my kids achieve their dream of going to Summer Camp and get to spend a week doing so many fun activities!

  235. A dream my daughter had was to play collegiate tennis. I helped her make that dream come true by sacrificing our lives for her training and tournaments.

  236. I put my son thru college,,i didn’t buy anything new for myself for over 6 yrs saving for this,,worked overtime and we made it happen

  237. I am still trying to achieve my dreams, not much help form my parents, unfortunately.

  239. My youngest wants to be an actor in a Broadway musical and I am assisting her in her dream. She graduated from an outstanding Arts college and is working in the theater, so is on her way.

  240. We are guardians of one of our grandchildren. We’re funding a 529 college fund because we know he wants to go to college although his career choice changes from time to time.

  241. Our son had a dream of getting his Bachelor’s degree in computers and he graduated this May, and our daughter is working on her last two years of her Bachelor’s degree as well. We are proud of their accomplishments!

  244. I am helping my son achieve his dreams of being an artist. He loves it and is very good!

  245. My grandson’s dream right now is to play in the MLB. We are supporting him in his Little League where he is an All Star player. We travel to all his games and cheer him on. My son hires pitching and batting coaches to work with him.

  246. My dream was to become a physical therapist and through the help of my mom I did it! She helped me financially through college and was there during times of high stress.

  247. My dream was becoming a nurse. We didnt have the money for me to go to college so I went into being a Home Health care aid for the Elderly and I totally love it

  248. I have a dream that my kids will go to college and have cars at a reasonable point after they are able to get their license. I have college savings accounts and car savings accounts for both of them. I actually don’t care what kind of school they attend after high school – trade school, art school, culinary school, or college of some sort. I’ve made sure they know this and that there will be money so they don’t feel limited in their goals.

  250. My parents made it possible and very clear that they wanted me to go to college, make something of myself and make history…

  251. My parents made it possible for me to attend a truly great college. I am grateful for that opportunity every day.

  252. Mine are grown but I am supportive of my daughter’s quests to be a certified instructor in several outdoors activities.

  253. I’m supporting my daughter in college, as she works towards her dream degree. It’s gonna take a while as she wants to get a master’s degree.

  254. My kids are all grown up so I don’t guess I know what their dreams are now. I just got a duplicate comment thingy and this is the only one I have tried to leave, so that was strange.

  256. My kids are both in martial arts and hope to achieve the rank of black belt. This requires lots of dedication. They spent several hours a week practicing.

  258. This is going to be so awesome. One of my dreams as a child was to become a nurse. I am currently in the process of pursuing that! I can’t wait to finish!

  260. My oldest daughters dream is to go to college and get a good education so she can one day have agreat job she enjoys. She isn’t sure what it is yet she wants to achieve.

  261. My dream was to be a archaeologist. I was always fascinated by the possibilty of discovering something from our past. Closest I ever came to that was finding some arrowheads lol.

  263. My dream when I was a child was to be an actress. Later in life I struggled with public speaking in a classroom filled with people I knew. What was I thinking?! LOL

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