“When I Grow Up, I…”

Do you ever find yourself in a moment when occasionally you just have to turn your head away to keep your kids from seeing the grin on your face?  I’m telling you, there are moments when I just have to wonder where these guys come up with this stuff.  This whole “mom” thing  just cracks me up sometimes!  You?  (In a minute, I’ll tell you what Isaac, our 8 year old, said – this time!)

So, I’m sure you moms, dads, caregivers, grandparents, etc., have all come across the moment when your little one wants to share with you their aspirations of what they want to be when they grow up.  Right?  These are some of my favorite moments, ever!  Those precious moments when I hear my hottlings say to me, “Mom!  When I grow up, I want to be a _____!”  And the list is endless!

Have you ever read the book with your kids by Dr. Seuss called “Maybe You Should Fly a Jet!  Maybe You Should Be a Vet!”?

Here’s what goodreads.com has to say about it:

“Every child who has ever been asked that age-old question will find in this lively book a world of outlandish answers as well as real possibilities.  This light-hearted, free-wheeling celebration of jobs plain and fancy should help children see that work is what you make it.  At the same time, the catchy rhymes and funny pictures make it a perfect book for beginning readers to read – all by themselves.”

This tale has been a favorite read of my family for as long as I can remember.  In fact, way back in the 1990’s when Caity was a toddler, there was a copy of “Maybe You Should Fly a Jet!  Maybe You Should Be a Vet!” located at my house as well as in Grandma’s basement by the pool.  Needless to say, this mom has shared this book many times over with my children, nieces and nephews.

The Today Show reminded me that in just two weeks, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day and one of my favorite things about being a mom is when my kids share with me what they want to be when they grow up.  Encompassing an entire gamut of possibilities, I will never forget the time when all Caity (now 22 years old with her MBA and working near DC) wanted to do was grow up and work at Pizza Hut.  LOL!

In no way, shape, or form am I trying to portray that working at Pizza Hut is not a great place of employment.  Absolutely not!  As a mom, we have dreams and ambitions for our kids, don’t we?  And although we may hope for them to grasp beyond being a server at Pizza Hut, we really don’t know what 20 (or 50) years will bring.  And, that’s just it.  A parent’s dream may not always match those of the child, right?

What are some of the crazy things your kids have told you?  You know what…  I can still remember telling my 8^th grade English teacher that I would be on Broadway someday.  Funny thing is, it took me 46 years to finally get there.  Not exactly standing on the stage, but I was there when hott-hubby Dan took me to see Wicked!

It so amazes me how God changes our plans.  And as He takes us through our life, wouldn’t you like to get a glimpse of where your kids will be in the future?  I will never forget what my sister-in-law told me when her first graduated from high school.  It wasn’t a “boo-hoo” moment, sad, or tearful.  No.  She said with excitement, “I can’t wait to see what God has planned for her.”

As graduation for many is just around the corner, it can be so stressful.  Ten years from now, when Isaac graduates, I am going to remind him what I heard him say to me.

It was just a week after he told me he was considering becoming a Chemist.  “Oh, really?  A chemist?   That’s cool!  What will a chemist do?”  “Well, mom, it’s like this; a Chemist gets to mix stuff up, right?  I was thinking I could learn to mix up something for Dad that would help him with Parkinson’s!”

“That’s a great idea, Isaac.”  (sniff, sniff)

Then yesterday, Isaac made another proclamation.  “Mom.”  In a very serious voice.

“Mom.  I have to tell you something.  When I grow up, I am moving to the west coast.”  “Oh?  Really?”  was my reply.  “Yes.  Mom.  I’m thinking of living with the celebrities out there.   In Hollywood.”

“You are?  That sounds like fun.”

“Yes, mom.  I’m going to move to the west coast and live with the celebrities so I can be…

A Pool Boy!”

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”  Colossians 3:23

I seriously didn’t know what to say.  I just turned my head because all I could think of was the movie Legally Blonde.

Copyright © Angie Hott, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved