What Do You Want to be When You Grow UP?

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow UP?

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” a question that children are asked at some point during their childhood. I asked my four-year-old grandson, Tyler, that very question and his answer took me by surprise.  

Over the years I have often posted about how proud I am of my son and his wife. They seemed so young, kids themselves, when they stepped into this thing we call life, a grown up’s world at best. To say we were worried, understatement of the century, and yet that worry seems so misplaced now.

During a casual conversation I asked the age-old question, “Tyler, what do you want to be when you grow up?” He stopped what he was doing, playing with a truck at the time, and thought for a second or two. His answer surprised me and reminded me of how proud of my son I am.

“Well,” he said, “I’m supposed to say I want to be a firefighter or a policeman but I don’t, I want to be a daddy, like my daddy.” I scooped that little boy up; who looks just like my son at that age, and just hugged him, “You have a great daddy,” I said. “That is an honorable position, and one you should want to aspire and hold one day.”

He climbed out of my arms and continued to play on the floor, not having a clue how his words had touched me so. That boy of mine, turned man, daddy loved by his children and adored by his wife, still flashes through my mind like the boy that sat before me on the floor.

What a great man he has become, what a wonderful example for his children and his family. Those kids (still to me), Zack and Alicia, work together; they get it done. Is it easy, work, school, family, I would have to say no. But that said, "The proof is in the pudding as they say." Happy kids. Great kids! Kids that want to grow up and be just like them. What confirmation that they’re doing something right.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” ….  “I’m supposed to say….”

By Amanda M. Thrasher