My three-year-old daughter and I were in the grocery store last week when an older woman approximately in her late 70’s early 80’s asked my daughter her name and age. She presumptuously stated to me that my daughter will make a fine housekeeper someday. I paused, the woman in front of me in the check out line heard her, looked at me and paused. As a mom, I was thinking, “ma’am you don’t want this smoke.”, but instead I said, “she can be whatever she wants to be when she grows up.” On the inside, I was pissed and wanted to go off! It didn’t help that she was white and for her generation that was one of the only jobs that many people saw fit for black women.
This is what Satan says to our children when we are not around to encourage and defend them. He often says it to us as adults. Many of us have the ability to edit and delete those negative thoughts, but children don’t always have the gumption to do the same.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a person choosing to work as a housekeeper. I don’t view that job as subpar work, but it’s not okay for anyone to tell a three-year-old or any other child what they should become when they grow up. If my daughter begins to dream of becoming a housekeeper I will guide her on how to own the business and how to secure the best contracts for her business.
However, she’s only three. My daughter is like the average young child. They have four career choices that they claim. As of 2019, she wants to be a ballerina, a doctor, a home builder, and a baker. We should allow them to dream even if we consider it the most unfathomable careers ever.
We have to allow our children to learn, inspire, and reach for the moon. If we limit them by what we think they are capable of doing in their future, then, we are no different than the foolish woman in the grocery store. It is only our responsibility to guide and support them.
My mom always told us that each generation in our family should do better than the last. That means that each child has had a chance to see or live what didn’t work for family members in careers, education, and relationships. From those encounters, they should be able to compound and elevate better lives for themselves. This is now my motto for my children. Figuratively speaking, “I’m walking in my journey of life so that they can run in theirs.”
My children and yours will one day be able to use the resources, prayers, and inspiration that we provide them with when they are young to build a beautiful life. Not a life without flaws, but a life of courage, determination, and direction.
We have the ability to guide our children into a good future, one that they want to live and can live with contentment. Never allow a lack of visible resources to limit you from helping your child succeed. There are a plethora of free resources available if we only take the time to find them.
Sometimes it begins with finding a mentor in the field that they aspire. Even your local library offers books, videos, and local summer programs that can be a great resource for your child. You can also talk to your child’s teacher or school counselor about potential resources and don’t forget to search via the internet.
As we prepare to move into a new year and decade remember that it is our responsibility to remind our children just how awesome they are and can be regardless of their shortcomings. Help them to write their vision and goals down and together you can create an action plan to pursue them.
“The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it.” Habakkuk 2:2
