While I may have more life experiences and genuinely want the best for my children, I may not really understand in detail my kids passions and desires. Hence, deciding my kids career path or choices may lead them to dissatisfaction later in their future.
I am a parent, and I understand my roles in the lives of my children right from when they were still in my womb. Their well-being, their morals, their academic life, and more are the responsibilities of which I shoulder as I continue to nurture them from infanthood to adulthood and to a stage where they can distinguish the good from the bad. I believe that every human being has a choice and should be given the right to exercise their choices in life without any pressure as long as the person is of age to take certain decisions in life.
Take, for instance, my second son, who is 6 years old. We are still in the state of building, but gradually, he has started showing his areas of interest, exercising his strength and weakness in different aspects of life. In his school, they usually enroll for talent hunts, and personally, I wanted him to go to the robotic club, but he said no, mummy, I prefer art. I was like why, and he was able to convince me of his choice, as little as he is. Of course I gave him the go-ahead order instead of forcing him to choose robotics, which was my own choice, and at the end, he may end up not being satisfied doing what I like rather than what he desires according to his strength.
Now, the above picture is one of his art works aside from painting and other practicals he has been doing so far since he made his choice. I was surprised at what I see him do, and that's a typical example of what we are discussing here today. I still have very little kids, not grownups, who are talking about choosing courses to study at the university or going for any choices of their career in life, but it starts now! The moment I am able to perform my parenting role nicely from their early age, other things that follow become easier.
Overall, my job as a parent is to guide my child, give advice, point in the right direction for my child, share my experience with him, and then allow him to make his choices in life without pressuring him to follow a path of my choice. The final decision after much parental guidance lies in the hands of my child, but I must ensure to play my part nicely, have a listening ear to my child, and understand and respect his viewpoint as long as it's not a path that would lead him to destruction.
I will wrap up by sharing this experience with you! One of my uncles once forced two of his sons to study medicine, and law, respectively. His decision was, It's either you study this or no school for you. These boys never wanted this choice from their dad but something else according to their strength, desire, and choices in life, which I consider unique, but unfortunately, my uncle said no and meant it.
Two years in the university, the one studying medicine had serious issues with the course, and he was removed completely from the department. The other one studying law was seriously struggling with liking the course, studying his books, and passing the exams. Long story short, none of them graduated from the university till date. They dropped out of school after many frustrations in the school. Currently, they are businessmen still struggling to stand, why because they missed their desired path, their choices where their strength lies.
In summary, when it comes to deciding the career path and choices for the children, the responsibility of parents should be helping the child to make the right choices in life.
Image 2 is mine , images 1 & 3
This post was inspired by the #inleo community and my entry to the #octoberinleo monthly topic Day 21 .Please check out the prompt to get involved.