№1Sometimes I wonder how many children’s gifts get quietly buried under their parents’ good intentions. And I can say that because I was one of those kids. My path was influenced by what was considered practical, secure, and respectable. And while I’m grateful for so much of where that path took me, there was always another part of me that wanted to create. That’s probably why I think about this differently now as a mother. We want our kids to be successful. Secure. Respected. We want them to avoid our mistakes and have opportunities we didn’t have. But somewhere along the way, “I want what’s best for you” can quietly become “I want you to choose what I think is best for you.” And those aren’t always the same thing. Our children give us clues about who they are all the time. The child who’s constantly drawing. The one taking everything apart. The one writing stories, performing, building, cooking, creating. Are we noticing? Of course we should guide them. Teach them discipline. Help them understand responsibility and the realities of life. But their life is not our second chance at ours. I don’t want my children fulfilling dreams that belong to me—or choosing a life simply because it looks safe or impressive on paper. I want to pay attention to what makes them come alive. Watching my daughter create this horse in charcoal stopped me in my tracks. Maybe her art becomes part of her career someday. Maybe it doesn’t. That’s not really the point. The point is that she has a gift. And I want to be the kind of mother who notices it before the world tells her to ignore it. 🤍
