What do you want to be when you grow up?
Over Thinking Parenting, editorials by me…
My daughter has been asked the above question at preschool, at the pediatrician’s office, at random places like the HEB checkout line, just about everywhere it feels like. It is the ubiquitous conversational question of choice with kids besides the standards, “How are you today? What’s your favorite color?” I always chuckle a little bit when this question comes up because my kid just stares back with a big, blank look. The concept of “careers” makes no sense to her, and we have tried to explain to her afterwards that the person just wants to know what she wants to do when she grows up. We throw out a few choice professions such as doctor or nurse if we were just at the doctor’s office or teacher if the question was asked at preschool. She always replies back with this, “I don’t want to be anything. I just want to be with Mommy and Daddy. I want to stay with you and Daddy forever.”
Hubby and I always stifle a laugh, and we promise her that someday, she will find her own life calling and want to have her own place where she can have a beloved pet cat if she wants one. To this, our daughter always answers with, “No, I won’t!” The idea horrifies her that she would even live anywhere other than with us, but she was still curious to know what all the different things that she could do when she grows up.
I started listing as many as I could think, giving my kid explanations when necessary. I told her in my best cheerleading impression, “You can be anything that you want to be when you grow up!” The fact of the matter is that I was not exactly being truthful because there are some things where I draw the line. It is too bad that I cannot (yet) give my daughter the answer that I really want to give her because she is just too young to even know about some of these “professions.” ”You can be anything that you want to be when you grow up except…”
Crack whore and pimp daddy: I forbid this 100% percent. I do not condone drug abuse, and I do not condone prostitution.
Terrorist and anything maliciously violent: Honestly. This is not high on my “I would be so proud of you!” list.
Devil worshipper: Truly frightening to me, indeed.
Thief and all derivatives of thievery: I think that should go without saying.
Reckless gambler, drug dealer, and all things having to do with “vices”: This is the same logic behind why I do not condone crack whoring. Users and abusers = big no no’s.
…and really that’s all I could come up with for what I hope my children would not aspire (spiral down?) to become when they grow up. Beyond that, the sky is the limit. I know that life lessons and an ethical upbringing should be enough, but I just want to make sure that my bases are covered, that my kids understand where I draw the line. I should probably say this to my daughter and son before they go off to college, so I have at least 14 years to hone my speech just right. 
“Do whatever that you like, live with Mommy and Daddy even, so long as you are doing whatever you choose to your fullest potential, and be happy doing it. Just do not do any of the above, please.”
You don’t think that my expectations are unreasonable, right? 
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