We started talking about what they want to be when they grow up. I have this need to stay abreast of their thoughts in this area, because I know I had a lot of ideas of what I wanted to be, but for some reason, they were just thoughts. I never really believed that I would or could actually become a marine biologist, or a zoologist. Do I regret that I never saw them as more than dreaming? Most definitely. So now I listen to what my kids want to be and start suggesting things they can do, even now, to start down that road if they want. I'm not pushing my kids, the decision and pace is completely up to them. It's just my job to show them how to make those dreams reality, that those ideas of what they want to do, have practical steps to them, and don't have to be just thoughts of "what if" in their heads.
Cas wants to be a Chef. I've told her she needs to think about culinary schools for college then. At 11 years she's already making dinners at home. She can fry eggs, make spaghetti, taco meat, and she's my right hand girl when I get busy (*ahem* side tracked) and have to yell out, "Cas go check on the..." insert whatever may be on the stove. I think the next step is to help her create the menu and shopping list and start broadening her skills to something that requires a few more steps to them. We should look in to extra cooking classes for her also.
Brynn wants to be a veterinarian. Her game plan is to call a couple of the vets or animal hospitals near our house and see if they have a volunteer program and what the age for that might be. She wants to volunteer with simple things like cleaning cages and kennels. The idea behind this is to get on familiar terms with the vet and the staff, and then as she gets older she can work in the office of the animal hospital while going through school. It gives her an in for internships and references to begin work too.
Tayler doesn't know what she wants to be. Maybe a nail technician. Or work at Walmart. We obviously need to work on this a little bit. What appeals to her is the customer service. We'll have to think on this a little more. Maybe it's wrong of me, but I'm not okay with my daughter saying she's going to grow up and work at Walmart. Not that there's anything wrong with working at Walmart, not by any means. An honest job is a good job plain and simple.
Cali very confidently told me, "Mom, I want to be a vet too. But not a vet for animals. I want to be a vet for people."
"A vet is only for animals, a vet for people would be a doctor."
"Oh. Well I don't want to be that then."
2 comments:
I've got one who wants to be a fireman....or work at McDonald's.
I LOVED reading this! And I love that you're helping you kids think long term about what they need to do to become what they want to be. A lot of my "when I grow ups" didn't happen too, and I simply didn't know how to achieve them, or got started on them much too late.
My daughter has said she wanted to be a veterinarian, a baby doctor, and a scientist. But lately, she said she wanted to be a nail technician, which makes me cringe. I'm sure there are a lot of accomplished nail technicians out there, but to me it is the epitomy of what you fall back on when you don't have a college degree. I want more for her than making $8.00 an hour by scrubbing people's feet, so maybe I'll have to try sparking her career ideas, and help her with a plan, like you're doing.
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