BEFORE your child has even made it past the teething stage, some parents seem to start talking to you about your little one’s future. And by that, I don’t mean when they’ll be stringing their first sentence together, I mean when they’ll be striking their first corporate law deal, or how long it will take them to pay your mortgage off for you.
I try not to think about what Erin will be doing in 20 years’ time. In fact I don’t want to think about where she’ll be, or what she’ll be doing, as that means she won’t be my little girl anymore and won’t be entertained by a rendition of Incy Wincy Spider, or pretending to eat the invisible omelette she’s just made me in her play kitchen.
Even better are the parents that are convinced their little munchkin is incredibly intelligent, and will of course be pursuing a career in law, medicine or politics. This is usually based on a child’s ability to write their own initials, or repeat some long words that have been religiously drilled into them to impress friends and relatives (although when the word ‘incidentally’ is pronounced ‘infiwentawy’ you have to question their point).
I recently sat holding my tongue when one mother sneered at the prospect of her daughter becoming an apprentice, or (god forbid) not going to university. Oh the narrow mind of it all!
If Erin decided she did want to go to university, then we would of course support her unquestionably. However we would be just as supportive if she decided to be a plumber or a hairdresser. Whatever she wants to do, as long as it makes her happy and she’s prepared to work hard, we would give her all the support she needs.
I asked my mum the other day if her and dad were in any way disappointed me and my sister didn’t go to university. She said quite emphatically: “No, why would we be?”
Yet again Pilling HQ is the voice of reason. We will do our best to follow their lead.
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