My son went to culinary school, and my daughter majors in theater. It's not what I planned for either of them, and that's OK.
A parent reflects on the realization that supporting children's individual paths—such as culinary school or theater—is more important than adhering to traditional expectations of college success. The essay emphasizes the value of recognizing a child's innate strengths and interests.
Why it matters
This perspective challenges conventional societal pressures regarding higher education and career paths, promoting a more child-centered approach to parenting.
The author (left) supported her son when he went to culinary school. Courtesy of VaNessa Duplessie My son went to culinary school after high school, and my daughter is majoring in theater. It's not what I expected for either one of my kids. I've realized that I need to help them become who they want to be — not who I dreamed they'd be. When my son was in sixth grade , he looked at me one afternoon in our garage while I was unloading groceries and said something I never expected to hear. He said, "Mom, you're not going to make me go to college, are you?" I paused, unsure of the answer. He was 12 years old. College wasn't exactly around the corner, and I figured he'd change his mind a dozen times before then. Looking back, he wasn't telling me what he wanted to do.
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