Friday, February 22, 2013

Don't Lie to Your Kids

In America there is a big lie that we frequently tell our kids.  That lie is: you can be anything you want to be when you grow up.  We live in a very competitive world.  Of course hard work plays an important part in who we become, but there are also internal and external factors that shape us.

Let's look at the kids who want to grow up to be professional athletes.  There are all kinds of reasons why any child can't grow up to be a linebacker.  No amount of practice can make up for physical stature.

How about a concert pianist? Come on, no kid wants to grow up so they can give neighborhood kids piano lessons.  In this case you need to have some innate talent.

How about President of the United States?  What if you grow up in an area with lousy schools and you are working hard and barely able to stay away from homelessness?  Your odds of getting into a prestigious university are about nil.  Unless you are intellectually gifted and freakishly lucky, in which case I suggest that you go ahead and run.  We could use a leader with freakishly good luck.

Princess?  Chances are that your dad isn't a king.

Listen to who your kids want to be and then discuss it with them.  Maybe they want to be a concert pianist and if they enjoy playing the piano, (and you have access to a piano) then it might be a good idea advise them to practice a lot and see where they are in a couple of years.  Kids are pretty good at assessing things and then changing their minds.  Help them to be successful in life.  That doesn't mean being rich or famous.  That means making basic life choices that create meaningful lives for them.  Just stop telling them that they can be anything.

 

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