Wow, the kid is amazing. I wonder what I was doing when I was four and if I was fearless and an avid risk taker. Kaityln is truly an inspiration.

I seen that last night! She was so cute! Not a very good singer/performer though. I worry that society gives our youth false hopes. I also have a theory that this type of encouragement leads to “know-it-all” grown-ups. I had a teacher who noticed teaching trends had changed to this method of unconditional praise. She also noted the arrogance it created in the next generation of students.

I remember seeing Hillary Clinton on Oprah YEARS ago and she talked about how her mother made her tough. She went home as a little girl and told her mom some other girl was picking on her and her mom told her to stand up for herself. I think lessons like that made her the strong leader she is today.

Here’s a fearless girl that is currently being spread around Youtube:

Beautiful entry, G, on being fearless.

It somehow reminds me… Someone on that TV show should have had the balls to tell her she sucks.

That show couldn’t ask for higher ratings unless she was retarded, an orphan, and had one arm.

And then they gave her a pony at the end.

XXXO,
K

When I first watched that video, I thought the same thing..wow, she is not at all worried about the large audience or going up there alone without her parents. I am not sure how I was when I was little but “fearlessness” is not a trait I possess now. I sometimes wonder, if I were fearless, and took chances or pursued opportunities I had, how my life would be.

I came here from a Valleywag article you were featured in…

Anyhoo, great entry. She is absolutely adorable, but I agree with @6’s comment ==> society tends to give youth false hope… and may lead to “know-it-all” grown ups with a warped sense of reality. I am, unfortunately, a living product of that.

There is no such thing as “false hope” there is only HOPE – if you view the world any other way then you have already lost. Thank you for the positive postings. It is refreshing to read and discover young positive perspectives.

Thanks Ranee! I think Im in love with Kris Dukes after visiting her blog. lol.

But yah, I’ve seen this in my own family as well. A good example that “false hopes” do exist can be found at the beginning of each season of American Idol. They pass some of their “talent” through a couple rounds of auditions before you seen them on tv. The horrible singers that appear on the show were OBVIOUSLY told by someone along the way that they sound good. Also, telling an above average intelligent kid that he/she has great talent when the kid knows they clearly do not, creates a person who has issues with trusting others. They realize that the parents or teachers are essentially lying to them to make them feel better.

I just wanted to say thanks for being a inspiration and being so positive. I wish you all the best and I found reading some of your entries uplifting, and I think as a leader when you can do that, you have done everything. Pammi, btw your cute: )

Actually, a lot can be learned from a four year old child; they believe everything, they hope for everything, they can support anything, they forget willingly, and they move on quickly. Children have love, love conquers fear. Love is the “thick skin” that is needed to successful whether you’re 4, 16, or 26.

Thats a bunch of bull. That girl was there because her parents forced her to go there. There is a difference between love (or passion) and being naive. I think some of you are making way more of this little girl than is necessary.

Besides statistically people who live completely fearless lives die younger. A little bit of fear keeps us healthy and society in check.

This weekend I took both of my kids to the local theme park and spent hours on different rides. My 6 year would close his eyes and tuck his face in his chest when he got scared on the rides while my 2 year laughed, giggled and had her hands up in the air saying, “whoooh” every single time. As a parent, I could not believe the two different reactions and I had expected the opposite from both children. What I realized was that my son has already learned about fear and was limiting himself to certain rides and therefore certain experiences. My daughter had no fear and wanted to go on rides which she couldn’t even go on b/c of her height limitations. I like the fact that she is open to all that comes her way b/c of her lack of experience, but I am also afraid of her getting hurt due to her lack of experience. From a mothers perspective, I feel safe knowing my son has limitations due to some fear but worry about my daughter. I have to agree with @6, some fear is good, it keeps us safe, at least as a mom, I feel safe.

How right you are. I’ve been talking to a lot of my friends lately about success and failure, and I’ve come to realize that fear, particularly the fear of failure, is perhaps what holds 99% of people back from doing what they love and following their dreams. My father always tells me, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Words of wisdom.

You are a true inspiration. I’m excited to read your memoir. Thanks for sharing.

I think you are attracted to inspirational stories because you yourself are looked at as an inspiration to others. Also I notice your blogs praise or connects to children, its almost like you spent so much of your youth being “responsible” you are finally connecting with your inner child within all of us, I believe it is wonderful.

I look forward to seeing you become even more successful!

Kudos to you, and you are super hot!

Hello,
I just wanted to say that we are proud of you. I wish that you become the most successful person in the world. gud luck

Well, Kaitlyn’s name is all over the internet… blogs everywhere!

Now about the singer’s, all of them, the other acts… We’re talking Vegas here and if they can compete with Bette Midler or Cline Deon, than you’re good to go! And we have the twirling batton, on fire… just another act and yes, when we were all little, people made fun of us too, but nope, Vegas doesn’t need another Twirling Firey Batton act – Sorry! Nor do they need another Elvis impersonator, heaven help us! Or a Sinatra impersonator…And if any singer stands there and starts to cry… I swear I’ll scream…. or about how bad their lives are and were… I’ll scream!

Now there’s Kaitlyn Maher, a little four year old, a little bit of a thing…. she got a little nervous when Pierce made a comment last night, but not one tear, her chin didn’t even quiver… not through the whole show, from beginning to end… not one tear, just smiles and “thank you” and “You’re welcome”! She’s scrubbed and clean – no makeup…. professional, composed, polite and just a bit of a thing. Dresses like a little doll (age appropriate)… and everywhere on the internet, everyone agrees, when she sings we cry.. she touches our hearts! We live in horrible times…. our children are off to war, inflation is killing us and our jobs, presidental election with all the dirt they can through at each other, violence in our schools… and a little bit of a thing comes on that huge stage, stands composed and confident on the big “X”, and sings her songs, in pitch and in tune – And not a tear and all the lyrics! Waves to everyone as she walks off… the little one is going to win!

She is going to win, because it’s not up to Pierce or the judges…. it’s up to use… and NO she won’t do Vegas but remember, we’re American’s we can change the rules…we love changing the rules… but win she will! For those few minutes she sings, she takes us away from all the ugliness in the world and we remember innocence! The big strong soliders in Irag, Grandmother’s, Grandfather’s, parents and not parents, we weep! Because she’s what America’s all about… Dreams and going for them! She loves to sing, and dance…. and she has a gift… for a few minutes, just a few, she reminds us of an innocent time. No war… No inflation… Global Warming…. Just that a little innocent girl can stand on that huge stage and sing like a little bird! And we weep…. Not sad tears but tears from the heart, we really don’t know why, but the tears come!

Mr and Mrs Maher, you have done a wonderful job… believe me, if she didn’t want to sing, you can’t get a four year old to do anything they don’t want to do! I’m a grandmother, I know — they’ll just stand there!

So I’ve gone on for too long…. Little Ms Maher…. You sing and continue to sing, cause it makes grown men weep! Your the BEST out there… You will win… but you’ll be in the church choir next year… you give us your heart and voice… and back our dreams… Way to go!

I had sent an e-mail to Kaitlyn on August 3. She sent me a reply on Aug 9. I sent afew more and her father sent me a reply notifying me tat she would be appearing on Sept. 3, 2008. jkaitlyn literally (Josh Groban) raises me up through the hard times in my life!! I know she is a real little soldier.. I hope she wins that contest! JeffSWalters Lawrenceville, GA

I had sent an e-mail to Kaitlyn on August 3. She sent me a reply on Aug 9. I sent a few more and her father sent me a reply notifying me that she would be appearing on Sept. 3, 2008. Kaitlyn literally (Josh Groban) Raises me up through the hard times in my life!! I know she is a real little soldier. I think she will win that contest! Mr. Jeffrey