Last month, Riley Curry, the 2-year-old daughter of Golden State Warriors Player Stephen Curry, became a headline favorite after making an appearance at two of her daddy’s press conferences. In footage from the post-game interviews, the toddler can be seen wandering around the stage, hiding behind curtains, and singing Big Sean’s “Blessings.” While many found the cameos to be adorable, others criticized Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, for allowing their daughter to misbehave. In an essay for TIME titled, “How To Parent When Your Kid Goes Viral,” the 26-year-old discussed the videos and why she felt that her husband’s decision to allow their daughter to attend the conference with him was beautiful. An excerpt from her essay reads:
Last week, Riley joined her father in a press conference, and some thought she stole the show. I thought it was beautiful, and I wouldn’t change a thing. There can be more than 50 people and 10 cameras—not counting camera phones—in the room during press conferences, so it can be overwhelming. But my husband handled his duties on the podium with ease and class. And my daughter was who she is—vibrant, spunky, and full of life. I hope she carries this with her through adulthood.
Stephen attends practice every day, and gives his all during the games on an almost-nightly basis. When that’s over, all he wants is to see his family, and on the day of that press conference, our daughter wanted to be with her father. I thought it was beautiful for him not to push his daddy duties to the bottom of the list just because all eyes were on him. I believe you should let your children be children, and don’t be afraid to be a parent, regardless of who’s watching.
Family matters! Our children matter! At the end of the day, when all the lights dim, and the cameras are gone, we are still here as his biggest, loudest, and most supportive cheerleaders. We are also extremely proud that in spite of some criticism, Riley was able to share in that experience with her father and bring joy and laughter into the lives and homes of many all over the world.
You can read her full essay here.
Follow Jazmine on Twitter @JazmineDenise
