Why We Are Lying To Our Children
Each and everyday kids from all across our great nation are told they can be anything they want to be. This is true and I encourage you do so with the children around you. We even reinforce this by askingquestions like, What do you want to be when you grow up? There is one problem I have with this. Keep reading to find out why.
By telling children they can be whatever they set out to be we are setting expectations. I am all for setting expectations with kids and adults. I believe we need to do more of this. What I have a problem with is we are contradicting ourselves a few years later. In chapter 9 of Michael Hyatt's new book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, he encourages his readers to "Think Bigger." He addresses this point head-on.
When we tell children they can do anything or be anything they want to be, we are encouraging them to think big. Why is it only a few years down the line we are telling the same kids to be realistic?! What has changed? Have these children suddenly missed their chance at living their dreams? Do we sincerely believe living our dreams only happens for those who magically find it in those few years? We are living and passing on a lie.
The United States of America is a country built by dreamers. Built by people who sought to do things differently. For goodness sakes, they sailed across the sea to pursue their dreams! They fought off the British to further pursue these dreams. Why do you think the slogan, "Think Different" resonates so deep within each of us? It is our heritage, it is who we are, and we are pushing kids down when we tell them to be realistic!
We are a country of innovators. We are hardworkers willing to bootstrap our way to live out our dreams! Why are we teaching our children to conform!
What are your thoughts? Find me on twitter and share. @craigbooker