with Kim Jackson

So, your little cutie just told you what they want to be when they grow up. It’s adorable when they claim the next to impossible at the age of four:

“I wanna be a princess when I grow up.”

“I gonna be like Batman momma!”

However, with the passage of time, comes the progression of their dreams.

“I’m going to be an actress.”

“I’m going to the NFL.”

So, what is a parent to do? Do you sit them down and give them the cold hard facts about what it takes to make it in their desired fields? Do you flatly refuse to entertain the idea and tell them to get their head on straight? I have to tell you. I went on a date with a guy that told me that his daughter wanted to be a singer. He admitted that she could carry a tune and that she sings with the church choir; however, she could not and would not pursue this while under his roof. As a lover of the ‘arts’, I was appalled and felt assaulted. Needless to say…it was our first and last date.

As a parent, we have very important jobs. We have to nurture our children at every turn; no matter what they wish to indulge in. But, the one thing that we must stress is that our indulgence is not just being supportive; it is part of a bargain. Education is a must and will be honored as such. As we all know, you can have your hopes and dreams; but, you should always have a back up plan. There are a number of voices out there that could have been the next Whitney Houston and a number of arms that could have been the next Donovan McNabb. Heck, I’m sure there are a number of both that could have surpassed Whitney and Donovan. But, something happened along their road to their true destiny. Either their parents put their feet down and adamantly refused to lift a finger in assistance or the parents had tunnel vision themselves and thought their chosen one had the world at their feet. In any case, the potential greatness never happened because they are now sitting in somebody’s office, store, restaurant, or living room letting the talent slowly drain. Or, like millions of people, slowly realizing that they did not have what it took and they are now wishing that they could do it all over again.

So, as our dreamers begin their new school year…remember one very important thing. We had dreams as well growing up; so, don’t trample on theirs. Remember, we as parents must support and nurture our young ones to continue to dream; but, never forget that no matter what it is that you want to do in life…education is the key.

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler Yeats

(noted Irish poet and dramatist; winner of Nobel Prize in Literature)