Father Loses 2 Young Children In Tornado
Why It's Hard To Get Along With Your In-Laws
What kind of job do you want for your kid?
Filed under: Just For Moms, Toddlers Preschoolers, Development/Milestones: Babies
My high school yearbook has a photo of a self-conscious girl with a big forehead and worried eyes. I hadn't looked at that photo in years, until my toddler brought it to me from my parent's den.
"Mama! Nolo's Mama!"
I am surprised he recognized me, without the deep forehead creases, the lines around my eyes, the skinnier face and more angular features.
"Yes, that's Mama,"I murmered,"A long time ago, that was Mama."
Beside my photo there is a caption, one of those benign, forgettable spaces reserved for bravado filled promises: "In ten years I will rule the world" or "In ten years I will be leaving on a sunny beach in Mexico." My caption says: "In ten years I will be a successful businesswoman."
I had forgotten I'd written that. I guess it's come true, if success can be defined as a comfortable house, a good job, and a lucky knack for sales. But I wonder why I hadn't written that I wanted to be a lawyer who helped draft better laws for women and children, a doctor who cured breast cancer.
I looked at my son, who had moved on to a picture of his Uncle holding a hockey stick.
"Nolo! Goaalll!" he cried, pumping his fist in the air.
I looked at my son and wondered what he'd be, what I'd like him to be. The most successful people I know might be doctors and lawyers and workaholic entrepreneurs, but they are not the happiest. I would like Nolan's yearbook caption to read "In ten years I will be blissful doing what I love to do." I'll have succeeded as his Mom if I can help him discover what that is, and be happy even if it's selling puka shells on a Mexican beach.
"Mama! Nolo's Mama!"
I am surprised he recognized me, without the deep forehead creases, the lines around my eyes, the skinnier face and more angular features.
"Yes, that's Mama,"I murmered,"A long time ago, that was Mama."
Beside my photo there is a caption, one of those benign, forgettable spaces reserved for bravado filled promises: "In ten years I will rule the world" or "In ten years I will be leaving on a sunny beach in Mexico." My caption says: "In ten years I will be a successful businesswoman."
I had forgotten I'd written that. I guess it's come true, if success can be defined as a comfortable house, a good job, and a lucky knack for sales. But I wonder why I hadn't written that I wanted to be a lawyer who helped draft better laws for women and children, a doctor who cured breast cancer.
I looked at my son, who had moved on to a picture of his Uncle holding a hockey stick.
"Nolo! Goaalll!" he cried, pumping his fist in the air.
I looked at my son and wondered what he'd be, what I'd like him to be. The most successful people I know might be doctors and lawyers and workaholic entrepreneurs, but they are not the happiest. I would like Nolan's yearbook caption to read "In ten years I will be blissful doing what I love to do." I'll have succeeded as his Mom if I can help him discover what that is, and be happy even if it's selling puka shells on a Mexican beach.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-04-2007 @ 8:58AM
Mammacheryl said...This made me smile. I often watch my son with curiousity and wonder. I can't imagine what he'll be doing, what kind of choices he'll make for himself. Like you, I hope he's happy and content with his life. Beyond that, I'll try to not have any concrete expectations.
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5-04-2007 @ 9:09AM
Rachel May said..."The most successful people I know might be doctors and lawyers and workaholic entrepreneurs, but they are not the happiest."
... maybe you should adjust your definition of "success". :) I know I've had to over the last 12 years since I graduated high school.
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5-04-2007 @ 9:41AM
Ginny said...Recently there was a list of professions that had the happiest people. (I can't figure out how to word that. lol) Clergy was one happy profession and I can't remember the others. lol All I know is...whatever profession my children choose, I hope they are happy. Money isn't the most important thing. Going to work EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. for 40+ years gets hard if you don't love what you do.
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5-04-2007 @ 10:29AM
Jacinda said...What do I want my kids to be? Married with kids. All the rest is irrelevant. Work does not have to be fun, contrary to what the feel-good types of today want us to believe. The Secret of Life has much more to do with the family than with the job.
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5-04-2007 @ 10:56AM
emily said...I used to think that I'd be living in my orange '72 VW bus with dreadlocks and an open road. Now I work for the government and pay taxes (whoa). Although its a polar opposite, I also have a beautiful daughter that I strive to be the best for. Hopefully I can teach her how to find happiness.
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