What do you want to be when you grow up? Are you going to college? Do you want to work with your mom or dad?
So many questions for such little people! My goodness, at 7 years old, how on earth are they supposed to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives when most grown-ups have no idea? I would worry about my kids if they had a concrete plan and did not deviate. Each one of the trio has a plan today. Tomorrow it will be different most likely and that is good. Let them try anything and everything.
Benjamin is so deeply emotional and feels things in a way that I just do not understand at times. His level of emotion is difficult as a child and as a male. At times he cries because he cannot get his point across or when the world just pushes on him too hard. Benjamin’s Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder both play a large part in how each minute of his day will be processed. There have been times when I look at him and wonder if he will make it through first grade without an emotional breakdown.
In the past few weeks Benjamin has been working on different things for Cub Scouts so that he can finish up his Tiger Cub requirements. I watch him. I am not sure if he knows I am watching. Maybe he does. When I look at this child filled with such a passion for learning and teaching what he has learned because he is so excited he just cannot contain his excitement I see him being a scholar, a Rabbi, or a college professor. In each of these professions, his quirks and idiosyncrasies will just be part of his character. If asked what he wants to be my wonderful, courageous child will answer: taller. How can you fault him for that?
My Rebecca has had an idea for almost two years now. She met a police officer who is female and Rebecca was hooked. Rebecca talked about how she was going to drive her car, ride her bicycle or horse around the city, how she would help chase down criminals and even how she would someday learn how to shoot a gun. She asked me if it would be okay if she had a gun at that point. I assured her that once she is trained in the police academy I would be fine with her having a gun.
I watched her a few weeks ago when the kids were all getting ready for bed and there was a little time left before lights out. I watched her call Olivia and Benjamin to her bed and instructed them to get ‘Comfy, cozy’ so that she could read to them. I watched my daughter read each page to the end and then turn the book so that the others could see the pictures. I watched this with tears of happiness in my eyes. I watched her be kind, empathetic and patient. Rebecca will need each of these qualities as she becomes a police officer.
Olivia is going to be the adult who re-invents themselves every few years. She will be the chameleon of the group. She wants to do everything: teach art and music, be a singer, a nurse, a writer, a Rabbi and a mother who adopts children. If you listen to her rational on how she can do all of these things in one lifetime you will understand her passion for life. Olivia explains how during the school week she can teach.
During summer vacations she will sing and write. From Friday to Sunday afternoon she can be a Rabbi. When she gets older she will learn nursing so she can be home with her children. I think about her plans and wonder if she can really do all of those amazing things, then I watch her…I watch the way she does everything with passion and with a love of learning and I know in my heart she will get there.
There are many days when I look at each of my children as if they were an only child and wonder what their future will bring: blessings, hardships or love? Each of our lives is filled with all three and I know that Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca will face their own sets of challenges. I know that if they each choose a path that makes them content with their life they will live a life of blessings.