The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt
As parents, we give freedom to our children in ever increasing amounts, moving the safety rails farther back as time moves forward.
One day, those rails disappear, and our sweet little babes will advance into adulthood.
Hopefully, we will have given them a sturdy foundation of faith, courage, generosity, kindness, hope, responsibility, and so much more.
Especially important, though, is that we will have let go, and handed over the reins to make their own choices, to give them the freedom to dream.
It’s not easy giving our children this precious gift of self-determination, but it is one of the most important things we do as their parents.
A couple of years ago I interviewed a quiet and unassuming young man.
His insights were both inspiring and humbling, and his goal was a big one: he had his sights set on being a Navy SEAL.
If you don’t know, the average washout rate for SEAL training is around 80%.
At the time of the interview, Ensign had graduated from a military academy and was awaiting orders to be shipped out to San Diego to begin his training.
I am thrilled and proud to announce he has graduated and made his goal of becoming a Navy SEAL!
I encourage you to read the story that tells the beginning of his journey and the events that shaped his life.
It is a story to reassure us as parents, to remind us of the importance of giving our children that strong foundation, allowing them to fail, supporting them in their endeavors, and especially giving them the freedom to dream.
Mom and Dad, I want to be a Navy SEAL
As a parent, you wonder what your child might be when they grow up: a doctor, a teacher, an athlete, perhaps.
Whatever you envision, however, it probably doesn’t include dangerous professions such as law enforcement, demolitions, or emergency response.
What if, though, your child sets their sights on the military and especially on becoming a Navy SEAL? As the Naval site notes, it “is widely considered to be the most physically and mentally demanding military training in existence. Then comes the tough part: the job of essentially taking on any situation or foe that the world has to offer.”
What might lead a young person to choose such a path?
You can read the rest by clicking here.
Question: What have you found challenging about giving your children the freedom to dream?
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That’s an easy one – keeping my mouth shut when I see him making a mistake I made and know he can avoid so much if he just didn’t make it! BUT as Alpha Hubby has taught me, we gave him the tools, so we have to trust him to use them. Most of the time he chooses wisely. The rest of the time we keep our mouths shut unless he asks for advice. Phew. Makes me understand my parents so much better! I’m off to read the article! GREAT post, as usual.
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