What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Aunties will ask. As will a few others.

My sister wanted to be an Indian so she could ride a horse.

Myself, I was obsessed with the idea of working next to my auntie at the checkout in the supermarket. Where she worked at. Or the deli section. The idea of wrapping goods in paper really appealed.

But this question has got me thinking?

There was always that one goal to strive for. As though everything hinges on that one job, one goal. One purpose.

A doctor. Vet. Teacher…..

But what also strikes me, is when are we grown up?

Yes, we know pretty much when a person physically stops growing. Around 18 years old. Or that females tend to mature faster than males. But, really when are we considered a grown-up?

I think of how a mechanic commented on how I sized up a puddle and jumped over it!

”Like a kid.”

Our experiences collect up over time so we can cook well, or drive. But at what point are we grown?

I did achieve a goal of working in Childcare as a qualified carer. But that was in my twenties. Now I clean houses, to suit school hours and with the flexibility around my child possibly falling out the hammock in school yard and banging their head, which has happened. And I’ve had to pick her up. I couldn’t do that if I was a pilot!

Emotionally I feel I’m still growing. At aged 43.

I have turned a corner at 40, I know that much. A self-awareness.

There are expectations on us to start acting accordingly, at a certain point.

A four year old walking backwards through the mall, in a cape brings smiles. An adult doing this would bring frowns. Yet I watched once a mum happily playing in the park with her child having a wonderful time, getting giddy.

The desire to do cartwheels and hop has passed. My sister and I would spend ages doing headstands and handstands in the hallway at home.

I actually tried hopping the other day with my daughter, to my horror I managed about four, before careening off somewhere strange. Crikey! When had I lost the ability to hop. Perhaps, it’s something a person stops doing at aged ten 1/2.

I do believe the statement “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Is outdated. Of course, it’s fun to ask. So many possibilities. Of course, analysis of a simple question just makes for overthinking, but I did wonder…

When are we all grown?

Teaching our children “the here and now” to value their presence NOW is to be cherished.

Instead of focusing on all the potential and the goal. Of course, kids LOVE to pretend. Love to play at jobs.

Let’s remember too, it’s not often promoted to grow happy or empowered. It’s all about that job role.

So enjoy the here and now. Encourage our children to value themselves as they grow. There is no definitive point to aim for, without knowing that “all that stuff” along the way is to be valued too. I’m getting there.

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21 Comments

- - mom152736 said
  - 03 Dec 2019
    9:32 am
yep my kiddo is superhero one day , a doctor one day and an army man the next day – go for it my boy

- - mom129591 said
  - 04 Jul 2019
    8:43 pm
Don’t stop ever dreaming of what you want and never be afraid to go for it. Showing our children is important for they watch us progress too as we watch them.

- - mom81879 said
  - 17 May 2019
    5:47 pm
I am 51, nearly 52, and ask myself this often. I used to want to be a social worker welfare officer. But I am way too soft hearted to have been any good at either. One say, when I’m grown up, maybe I’ll know what I want lol

- - BellaB said
  - 09 May 2019
    7:43 pm
Yes, but having a goal is helpful for lots of people. It just shouldn’t be your only focus.

- - mom343701 said
  - 02 May 2019
    7:27 am
if you have health that is great

- - teegsmrstee said
  - 30 Apr 2019
    3:30 pm
I just want my kids to be happy honestly when they grow up

- - neat22 said
  - 29 Apr 2019
    4:50 pm
It’s an interesting subject I’m also learning not to put my history too much in my kids. For example: I did this activity so I want to recapture it with my kids. It is nice to go on say, a picnic on a rug with the kids. No technology as that was what I enjoyed when I was 9 years old.
But expecting my children to understand a time they weren’t even alive in isn’t absolutely crucial in their experiences. It’s their time. Their experiences. Now.

- - Ellen said
  - 29 Apr 2019
    7:15 am
Yep, we never stop growing ! And my kids live pretty much in the here and now, bless them !

- - mom19782016 said
  - 28 Apr 2019
    9:56 am
I still talk about what I want to do when I grow up!

- - mom350461 said
  - 24 Apr 2019
    7:33 pm
I wanted to be a nurse or a physiotherapist. I commenced my nursing degree and found out really quick that due to some physical setbacks I was unable to pursue both career. Ended up in a finance career and now a ft mum to my children

- - LuckyMum said
  - 09 Apr 2019
    7:43 am
Other than wanting to be an air hostess.. I was always going to be too short for that … I wanted to be a mum .. I’m so lucky to be mum to two beautiful girls who have given me 3 gorgeous grandsons!
- Mum2archer replied
  
  09 Apr 2019 , 10:22 pm
  and we are lucky to have you as our mum xx
- - Ellen said
  - 09 Apr 2019
    7:40 am
We’ll never stop growing, my parents are in their eighties and still growing
And yes, enjoy the here and now, value yourself and encourage your children to value themselves while they grow.

- - mom265671 said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    11:06 pm
You’ll try so many different jobs. I couldn’t possibly pick when I was younger. My interests are still changing

- - Blossom said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    9:37 pm
I never really thought about it until the end of Year 8. Choices depended a bit on the career you thought you might choose which class you would placed in. Initially I wanted to be a teacher, then a dressmaker and my final choice was to work in an office which I did for 40 years in one place of employment

- - mom112217 said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    5:25 pm
I remember because of my love of animals l wanted to be a vet!
- mom93821 replied
  
  09 Apr 2019 , 4:35 am
  Going with a passion for a career is always the way to go.
- - DaffyD said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    3:12 pm
I never thought about it as a kid so haven’t raised it with mine

- - mom93821 said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    3:07 pm
Evolving, changing, growing and challenging.

- - ashna9 said
  - 08 Apr 2019
    2:15 pm
I always wanted to be the first female prime minister. I’m actually a primary school teacher…lol
- neat22 replied
  
  08 Apr 2019 , 4:50 pm
  A primary school teacher is a great job! I have teachers that I adored and still remember and value.