I'm talking how we guide our children in their career choices.
P planned on "pirate" as a career plan until he was 6... at which point he decided that was too much work (and he couldn't swim) so he switched to being a robber. His kindergarten teacher tried to convince him that he meant policeman... so I think now he's planning on being a corrupt cop. (I'm getting worried about this one)
When H was younger she wanted to be a mermaid... she's a little more practical now and is thinking artist.
Just 2 years ago M was sure that she wanted to be Zoe - and now she wants to be a doctor.
Of course, that was the year I was teaching preschool and one of the little boys told me he wanted to be a "pumper truck driver"... I of course didn't know what a pumper truck driver is so he proceeded to explain (with great enthusiasm) how these lucky guys get to drive around emptying the contents of the port-o-lets... and he was totally SERIOUS about this career path! A few weeks later I got to see for myself a pumper truck driver in action - thank you "Dirty Jobs" 
(seriously, I can barely contain my heaves WATCHING that show...)
on my morning walk yesterday there was much discussion between S and I about our children - both of our eldest children (14 and 13) are thinking toward something in the medical field. When I was 13 I was thinking how cute that boy in math class was. Why do they push so hard in school for them to choose something now? Did ANYONE know back then what they were going to do? And are we being bad parents to push them toward well paying fields instead of... well... pumper truck drivers?
Went swimming with my family last night. Swimming with children between the ages of 5 and 14 is interesting - as I like to keep an eye on all of them, but I am required to spend the majority of my time in the shallow end entertaining M. Lots of other adults are there doing the same thing so it's always interesting to people watch. One man was entertaining his two toddlers (who were LOVING it) by laying there pretending to be dead while they pulled him through the water. I wondered for awhile what he was thinking - but then I realized: He's training them for a career with greenpeace - they will be singularly qualified to save the whales.
(note - the man WAS overweight - but not huge... but he was a great dad, because those were the happiest kids at the entire pool!)
13 comments:
Wow! Thanks for the lovely photo... I think I'll wait a while for lunch. I do, however, love the story of the beached-whale-dad. What a good dad. I wanted to let you know that you need to check out my friend, Melissa's blog. You won something in her giveaway! Congratulations!
Hahaha! That's all.
for the record - that particular picture is from when he was working at the worm farm and NOT when he was cleaning the porta potties :) (ewwwww, now I'M grossed out)
Career choice is a funny thing because it's something adults always ask kids. Maybe it's cause we can't think of anything else to ask kids about?
I totally thought the picture was of human waste as well. Glad it wasn't!
All I know concerning career choices is Anika is afraid to be a Mom because of birthing. And I'll tell you - I never told her it hurts and we haven't gone into details! But I showed her a picture of sextuplets the other day and the first thing she said...no, not "cute kids!" but "wow- that must have really hurt".
P must be related to me!! We have criminals AND high ambitions!
I have a 21 yr old that still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. I wish he would figure it out!!!
BTW, I hope you had fun last night!
Man I'm 25 and I still don't know what I want to be!! And what is it with boys and port o pottys??
I think tv plays a big part in influencing our children. C wants to do crime investigation like the girls from CSI.
I always wanted to be standed on Giligan's island or grow up and live in the Brady House.
ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
This is very interesting to think about. There is pressure to know early so you can do things as easily and quickly as possible, but there is nothing wrong with taking your time and finding the things you really want to do.
HAHAHAHA! Yea well my boy wants to be a SMOOTHIE MAKER!!! WHAT THE WHAT???
This made me grin. When the Tongginator was little, she wanted to be a "doot-doot" girl. Translation - the grocery store checker (think about the noise). Our next-door neighbor (age six) is like your daughter and wants to be a mermaid. Heh.
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