Taking Criticism (Kate, Are You There?)

I never, ever wanted to watch Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), but now I’m hooked. My reason for not wanting to be a viewer is simple: I love to dance. Therefore, watching other people having a good time is like…torture. I spend every minute wishing I was dancing along!(Check out the dancing scene in Cut, Crop & Die. I had to tone it down some, but that’s me, bay-bee.)

Lately, I’ve been watching DWTS and thinking about criticism. It’s always hard to take, isn’t it? But I’ve noticed that the stars and participants who can’t take it are usually the ones who don’t make it to the final round. Makes sense.

Now I’m going to get snarky. Can you believe the way Kate Gosselin is acting? I shudder when I see people roll their eyes at the panel of dance experts. I mean, I don’t care how snippy Bruno gets or how tough Len is. They do know what they’re talking about.

But Bruno and Len and Carrie Ann are just part of the crew. The hardest working folks in the show, in my humble opinion, are the professional dancers. I mean, dancers have the lifespan of a gnat. It’s just so incredibly hard on your body. These kids turn up, step up, and dance it up every week. So, spouting off to a dancing pro and telling him he doesn’t know how to teach is just wrong. But that’s exactly what Kate did. In the UK, they call that “cheeky.” To be that rude, takes…well…it takes something. If Kate’s goal is to show her kids how to act, gee, I hope the show airs after their bedtime. Especially if reports are true that she’s also being a real pill by showing up late on the show. Whoa-doggies. Personally, I’m getting a bit weary of hearing Kate pull the “I’m just a mom trying to survive” card. I see a lot of moms trying to survive, and golly, their lives don’t look at all like Kate’s.

It’s tough to take criticism. I know. I stomp around the house after it comes my way. But notice, that’s my house. We don’t have cameras rolling here.

Right now I’m working on a new idea. I keep showing it to my husband. He keeps telling me how I can improve it. I HATE his help. Hate it. But he’s usually right and I remind myself that if I can put my ego aside and listen, my work and I will both be better for it.

Here’s the deal: If you’re going to live a public life, you better grow tough skin and a poker face. At the very least, keep your mouth shut when people give you good advice. Oh, and if you want proof that sneering is not a good idea, here’s a tip–anytime you can put “sneering” and “your name” together and get google hits, honey, it’s time to clean up your act. Even if Bruno did just compare you to a shopping cart!

Besides, didn’t anyone ever tell Kate her face could freeze that way?