As moms, and parents, we often lament the passages as our children grow up. We marvel at how fast time flies and we remember stages and phases from the past. I am no different. I often think about days when my children were smaller and there are some things about those days that I miss.
However, I also like looking ahead. I don't want time to go by too quickly, but I look forward to seeing what the future holds for my girls. I wonder what boyfriends and, eventually, spouses they will have. I wonder if they will have children of their own. How many? Boys or girls?? I wonder what careers they will choose.
Based on their current interests and personalities, I have some predictions about their eventual occupations. So, instead of taking my daughters to work with me, I'm going to share what I think their work might be in the future.
Rachel is 11 and in sixth grade. She LOVES animals. She became a vegetarian at the age of seven when she learned that eating meat means killing animals. It may surprise you, though, to know that she does not want to be a veterinarian. She doesn't like doctors or medical procedures and doesn't want to perform surgeries or euthanasia on the animals she loves so much. Instead, if you ask what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer will be a zoologist. She wants to be with the animals and care for them - feed them, play with them, oversee their environments, and teach others about them. We have talked about it a lot and tried to explain that there may still be some days when animals she has become attached to are sick or hurt. We have tried to explain that a zoologist may still have to make some tough decisions. This, however has been her top choice for the past few years. Her second choice, at the moment, is to be an architect. I can completely see this as well. Even when she was little, she preferred blocks and building over dolls or dress up. She loves Minecraft and has even tried her hand at drawing some house plans before. I think Rachel would be wonderful at either of these professions. She is by far the most self-assured kid I have ever known. She is quite determined and, once she has made up her mind, she will accomplish and excel at whatever she chooses.
Megan is 9 and in third grade. What does she want to be when she grows up? A teacher. She loves school. She comes home from real school and plays school- sometimes with her younger sister and sometimes all by herself, except, of course, for her imaginary class. She takes in everything while she is in the classroom and, even at nine, sounds very teacher-like when I overhear her playing. If, in the next ten years, she decides against becoming a teacher, she might choose to become a chef. She went through a phase a few years ago when this was her answer to the question. She loves to watch cooking/baking shows and likes to help in the kitchen from time to time. I wouldn't say she is an adventurous eater, but she is certainly the least picky of all my children. Another possibility is that she might become an engineer. She loves math and is a whiz with puzzles. At Christmas, she put together a 3-D Eiffel Tower puzzle (with just a little help from her dad) and was very proud of her accomplishment. She asks a bazillion questions and likes to know every detail about how things work.
Emily is 6 and in first grade. If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer will either be "a princess" or "a mommy." At one point, she planned to have 20 kids! Perhaps it is because she is a little younger, but a career prediction for her is a bit harder to make. I once wrote about her amazing faith. She has begun to ask more questions, sometimes questions that are fueled by seeds of doubt, but I think that is completely natural for a child her age and she always seems to come back to her beliefs. Her faith coupled with her sense of compassion gives me confidence that she could be in ministry one day. She could also be a doctor or a dentist. She actually likes going to both and is a trooper when it comes to shots or minor procedures (unlike one of my other children who shall remain nameless). She is definitely NOT an outdoor kind of gal and would not have a profession that involves dirt, sweat, or one in which she could not wear a dress.
It's fun to make these predictions and I look forward to seeing where their paths take each of them. In the end, the choice is theirs and the most important thing to me is that they choose something that will make them happy.
Do you have predictions for which careers your children will choose?? Did you choose a career that was "predictable?"
Note: 4/24/15
Recycling this one for FTSF!! This week's hosts are:
Kerri of Undiagnosed But Okay (http://undiagnosedbutokay.com/)
and Jill of Ripped Jeans and Bifocals (http://rippedjeansandbifocals.com/)
17 comments:
My daughter always says she wants to be a teacher, but that could be because both of her parents are teachers! When I was her age, I wanted to be a teacher. Then an astronaut. Then a lawyer. And now I'm a teacher. So many options! it's exciting to think about where they will go (but not too soon, as you point out!) And yes, as long as they are happy...
Ha, I think I am on career #3... or 4. I love watching my daughter develop, and we often talk about her future career choices- she is 14. Her current ambition, as well as her Instagram profile is food stylist in training! She is a pescetarian, and has always been an intrepid eater/taster. Kids are amazing! Yours sound great!
I love this and will say I cant wait to see what my girls will do and be someday. Definitely fun though to think about this and see if the predictions will come true :)
I think it is natural for kids to want to be teachers because that is what they are exposed to. My kids know lots of teachers too, my parents were teachers, I was a teacher, my brother, my MIL (who also does reading tutoring at their elementary school). Nothing wrong with be a teacher at all - just hope they realize they have LOTS of options. :-)
Thanks Nancy! Food stylist is very cool choice!
Yep! I hope I remember to revisit this post in 15 years and see if my predictions were correct! :-)
Wow! What a fun thing to do--when my girls were little, my oldest wanted to be an indentured servant (I wrote about that in a post--fortunately the phase didn't last long) and I knew she would never end up in the medical profession (although she did start her college career as a nursing major--but who am I to tell my child what they shouldn't do?). Now she has graduated from college and all that reading she did as a child has paid off--not in a monetary way, but her writing talent makes me weep with it's beauty. She wrote a middle-grade novel for her senior project. When our youngest was 7 or 8, I would have said doctor--she loved (and still does) seeing how doctors put broken bones together (she watched the doctor set her broken arm) and how surgeries work. But she's having a crisis of faith in her intelligence and God-given gifts. She's almost finished her second year of college, and still doesn't know what her major will be. She has an incredible voice (ok, I know I sound like an over-proud mommy, but really, people have told me they like her version of Sarah McLachlan's 'Angel' better--so it can't be ALL me ;) ) and decent artistic talent. This year she's drawing closer to God and learning to trust him and hopefully she'll discover his place for her. That's what I want most of all--that our daughters find their place and their peace with what God wants them to do.
Absolutely! If they can find that, they will be happy and content with whatever they choose.
Emily sounds like Scarlet! I used to want to be a zoologist myself, but it never panned out that way. A wildlife photographer maybe. I'm not very science-y.
It's so hard to say with my little ones. Scarlet will be a singing princess, and Des will be a toy inventor!
How fun! I think my boys will be doing something with computers...my oldest wants to go into programming. No clue with my daughter...lawyer? politician?...she's very good at debate and arguing.
I always wanted to draw. And write. In some ways, I guess I am but the writing and graphics I get paid to do aren't as fun as the ones in my head were. I also wanted to work in a zoo and was a vegetarian once I found out where hamburgers came from. I'm still weird about meat, although I eat it. I love that you found a way to link this to FTSF and thank you!
Isn't it fun to wonder what your kids will grow up to be? And chances are, it won't be anything close to what they think when they're young. I can't wait to find out!
I wonder all the time what Abby will be when she grows up. Like your oldest, I definitely see her working with animals. Of course, that is probably the only way she will get the pony she wants
Yes, I wonder too, Lisa.
Always curious what future will my son embrace...I guess being a mom makes us always wonder about them ,huh ;)
Thoughtful post :)
Lol to the princess and I have had female doctors who wore cute shoes and nice dresses with that white coat on. As for Christopher I can't say. He's got a long ways to go to become professional at drumming, football and basketball. With his little less than 5 year old self he wanted to be a paleontologist. Then one summer he asked me if I thought it would be really hot when he was digging for bones. I said, "Probably" and he changed his mind just like that. It must have been a dreadfully hot day.
It is fun to wonder about what our kids will turn out to be. My two are getting closer as both are now in college. We'll see if their majors have anything to do with what they end up doing . I also can't wait to find out.
So funny...just before I read this I was wondering what one of my kids will be when he grows up. And...I still want to be a princess. Totally reasonable, right?
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