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Whose Dream Is This Anyway?
By Polly | September 4, 2008
I’m a little worried I’m cheating my children. Cheating them because unlike many other parents in our school district, I don’t make my kids take extra math classes, join competitive sports teams, and participate in performance orchestras. My style tends to be a little more laid back in that I make sure my children work hard in school, get good grades, have plenty of opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities of their choice, form many friendships and social networks, and always give 110%
And as I stand back watching these other kids grow and their parents dedicate endless hours and dollars to their children’s lives, I often wonder whose dream are they chasing? Do these kids actually dream of becoming the doctors, scientists, and lawyers they are being groomed to be or do they dream of something different? Or worse yet, do they dream at all?
Call me crazy, but I actually think it is a good idea to let my kids dream their own dreams and help them along the way by providing them the opportunities and resources to achieve their dreams. Mimi Doe said it best in her book, 10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting: Nurturing Your Child’s Soul, “When we nourish our children’s dreams we help them strengthen their courage to stay true to who they really are - we allow them to weave their spirits into everything they do.” I couldn’t agree more.
Don’t get me wrong, I know the parents who choose a more structured managed life for their kids, are doing so out of love and a desire to give their children a better life. But in the end, the straight A’s and perfect ACT scores will mean little if their children’s spirits are sad and unfulfilled and they end up being something other than what they were meant to be.
Related Entries:
Dream Big!
There is a lot of Peace in Having a Plan
The Not So Perfect Family Journal
Are You a Family with Purpose?
Family Travel Goals
Topics: Building Strong Families, What I Think I Know |