I am talking a lot with my girls about their future, their goals, what they want their life to be.
And as Anja (the 13yr) seems to have no idea, or pretends not to be interested in this topic at all, the younger Tina has all figured it out.
She can tell how her house will look like – the pool, large garden, the bridge over the pool, large bedrom with wardrobe room, operated remotly from the computer, big kitchen, everything…
She is also very determined (for now) that she will become a forensic. She watches all the shows like CSI, NCIS, Bones, she reads books from Agatha Christie… Last time we went to the library she borrowed the university study book about murders. And she read it.
Tina has birthday recently and she wanted a latent fingerprint kit for the present. She surfed the net (she did that before to make her vision board placemat) and found several that she wanted. The prices can be from 30$ to 1500$, so we negotiatated for smaller one, but we (secretly) bought her some additional stuff, like this tape and stack of notes (see under the tape).
Well, I’m not sure if that was good idea, since almost every room in our house is now a crime scene;) These are doors of her room on the picture. Our fingerprints are taken from every possible and impossible places, leaving behind the pink powder everywhere.
But… she is so much into this, that I strongly believe she might really become a forensic. She talks about it, acts it, pretends to be one already… what else can she do? Except grow up and follow her dream.
What about your kids? Do they know what they want out of life? Do they imagine their lives in 30 years?
If not, help them and start talking about it. Ask them what they want to be, when they grow up, where would they want to live, in what house, how will their family be like – how many children they want, what pets will have, where will they go to holidays… Don’t limit your child in imagination. Remember that even 20 years ago, the phones were rare and we didn’t even know the cell phones, but today we can’t live without. So after 20 years who knows what the world be like. Maybe your child has an idea:)
Talking about the future and what might be is great activity during long drives or when you wait somewhere.
But don’t take it too seriosly. Children can change their minds in the future. And I’m sure they will be grateful someday if you help them remember their childhood dreams. As they might forget about them somewhere in the growing process.