Tuesday, June 22, 2010

"You want to do WHAT?!" Letting Our Children Grow Up...

When my daughter, Taylor, (18 next month) was in kindergarten, it was already clear that she was going to be one of those kids who would create her own path in this world.  Her kindergarten teacher called me to a meeting and said, "I have been teaching 5-year-old kids for more than 20 years, and I have never seen anyone do...."  Yes, that is when I knew Taylor would be her own person No Matter What!!

Being an artistic, creative, outgoing, outspoken girl, she has gone through a complete cycle of career ideas--all if which she would be perfect for:  

  • When she was going through her pink, blue, purple hair stage, she wanted to be a Hairstylist.
  • When she was going through her Raccoon Eye make-up days, she thought a Makeup Artist might be "it."
  • Then she discovered the joy of photography, and with her artistic eye, she would have been good at it.  But then she realized she might have to take pictures of something other than herself! 
  • When she went through her experimenting with drugs phase (yes, it happens.....) and went through a rehab program, she thought perhaps that was her calling (although truth be told, 8 years of college might have been a little more than she could swallow!) 
  • She took a culinary class in high school and set about immediately looking into culinary schools.  At this phase, she actually applied and was accepted into a fantastic culinary arts school!
  • And then, she realized that she didn't really like cooking--she liked baking and designing, so we looked into pastry arts schools, which, again, is a great fit for her!
Flash Forward to Present Day!!!
Taylor comes home last week, and being frustrated with her current job where she is not getting enough hours to support her shopping habit, she announces to me:

"MOM, I AM GOING TO BE A PIERCER!!"

Okay, so I have to tell you....while this may not be the career path I would have chosen for my little 5-year old girl, I told her to look into what she needed to do to make it happen!  The amazing thing??  She did it!  She went online to research, she made phone calls, she talked to shop owners--she actually did the work!  Now, this says a lot about her dedication to this line of work. So....

We went together to a new tattoo shop that opened less than a mile away, and talked to the owner.  We'd been in his shop several times and he is a nice guy.  You might not guess that by looking at him, but he is.  He does not do drugs, he does not drink, he has never smoked a cigarette, and he is the father of a teenage daughter.  He understands my concerns and I trust that he will take care of her....and that says a lot!

She started working there last week, and she loves it!  She has an outlet for her creative side and she is learning--not just about piercing, but about business and customer service and health issues.  Kevin (the owner) is preparing her for her future.  He insists that she learn the business inside-out--not just how to poke holes in people!!  haha

She gets up in the morning, gets her chores done, and is excited to go to work!!  She has a plan...she wants to finish this apprenticeship and then work part-time while she goes back to college for pastry arts.  This career choice will allow her to earn enough money to pay for college and possibly, one day, move out of my house!  

Yes, I always knew my daughter was not cut out for the traditional career path, but I could not be more proud of her!  She has found her passion and is now doing what it takes to Achieve Her Dreams!

As Moms, we always say "we just want our kids to be happy!"  Well, what I see is a happy little girl morphing into a happy young lady!

And that is enough for me!!

Now my son is another story all together.....

Until Next Time...

11 comments:

Natalie said...

Hi Lisa,
thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm so glad you did. I'm following your blog now too and I'm off to Twitter to be number #4 ... that was funny.
I'm going to have to keep your daughter away from mine who I have the discusion "no you are not getting your belly button pierced" about every week!

Sadie said...

I have had (in the past) so many piercings. Ears, belly button, ankle (yup) and tongue. I loved LOVED them and the people that did them for me. They then suggested jewelry or bands. It really is a creative pursuit!

Ronda Stroud said...

Great Post, Lesa!! I think we'd have more happy people if their parents encouraged them to follow their dreams instead of living in a box.

Mary said...

I have two boys who have survived their teenage years and now both are in college. The only advice I've given them is "Be your own person"... sounds like you are doing that for Taylor!

cathyjoy said...

that is so awesome! yay for her and for you for allowing (and encouraging) her to follow her heart! i keep thinkin that i may need another piercing some day...some where...

thanks for stoppin by! love makin new friends (and you don't even have to whine - at least not much)

Cindy Clemens said...

Lesa,

Congratulations on having the courage to let her be..her!

As a parent we like to think we would do this, but sometimes when it comes right down to it, it becomes very hard to bite our tongue.

Morgan came home at 17 and said "What would you do if I said I wanted to pierce my tongue?" We said "Fine with 3 rules, we pick the place, we get to be there and we get to video record it so we can tease you later."

Other parents thought we were nuts. But I have always had a theory and that is: It is her body, it is her life and she can make the choice. Every choice is a learning experience and I am here if she decides it was a bad one. :)

2 years later she still loves her tongue piercing and people still think we were crazy to "let" her do it.

You are a wonderful mother to "let" your children follow their dreams. Even if it turns out to be today's dreams and tomorrow's dreams are different. She will look back on her life and remember the love and support that her mother gave her.

And there is NO better gift that a parent can give their child.

Cindy

Java said...

Thanks for the tip on the Emu Oil! I'm definitely going to check that out!

I am now following! I love your blog!!

I would also like to invite you to join the Over 40 Bloggers Club!! Take a look and join in the fun!

CJ Poindexter said...

I am following from MBC. Great post. I have three young kids and I can't even imagine them being 18! Kudos to allowing your daughter to take her own path.

Check out my blog at http://killsuperwoman.blogspot.com
CJ

Janet Morris Grimes said...

Lesa, I got your message from my prayer on Mommies Cafe. Definitely. Feel free to use it. Thank you so much for reading.

I love your blog as well. Mom-ness quickly takes us to our knees, does it not?

Tree said...

Awww....that's a nice story! I have a teen daughter in Cosmetology, and she's come home with some rather funky do's too. LOL She's blond now.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and following! I'm now following you with all 3 of my blogs. :)

Tree (aka Mother of Pearl)
Mother of Pearl It Is
Mommies Faves Top Sites and Blogs
Go From Fat To Fab

Floundering said...

This is a fantastic post! As is the whole site, Love IT! I'm definitely going to follow. Be seein ya around :0)

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