Setting Course

When my son, Garett, was about 18 months old I asked him a question, not because I expected an answer, but just to stave off the quiet. He surprised me with a response that was immediate and confident, as if he'd been waiting his whole life for someone to ask.

"So, Garett... what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I be Lah-Lah-Lah" he said, and then broke into song; ♫ "lah--LAH--lah!" ♫

We're older now but the question never really goes away for a kid, they get asked all the time by friends, relatives, and people they've just met. It's an intimate question that cuts straight to the meat of who they are; what are their dreams, values, and expectations for themselves. It's a tough question that many of us grown-ups are still asking ourselves.

Molly, my 9 year old daughter, already has it figured out. Her chosen career path is the result of a seed planted by Disney and nurtured into realistic ambition by stories rolling in from the Somali coast. She has an adventurer's heart and seeks life's great treasures.

She is also a realist. Molly recognizes that her goals may be difficult to achieve and so she has a backup plan in place. Her top two career choices are:

Choice #1 - Pirate
Choice #2 - Vampire

I am tempted to tell her she could satisfy both of her career aspirations with a single occupation, but that's the last thing the world needs... another lawyer.