Her breath smelt of poo and vinegar!

One day when my daughter returned from school as per usual, we had our tea, rested and started getting ready for her singing session, until l noticed that my daughter wasn’t budging! When l asked her why, she informed me that she no longer wanted to carry on with her singing lesson’s because the singing teacher had a breath which smelt of poo and vinegar!

l was nonplussed by this. What was shocking was how she was able to come up with a new excuse every time she changed her mind about a commitment previously agreed on. My daughter is 7 and whilst l was not angry with her, l’ll have to admit l was getting a little frustrated. She loves to sing, that’s all she ever does.  l only suggested involving a singing teacher when she told me how desperately she wanted to sing professionally like the popstars!

Prior to this, she had also informed me about how she wanted to be skilful at dancing. After attending the dancing school, you guessed it she came up with a silly excuse.

Just like my daughter l have also come up with ingenious ways of encouraging her to commit to what she likes. I do this because knowing how to prepare my children for a future that doesn’t yet exist  is  by far the most challenging responsibility of a parent. Where possibly all careers might become automated. Leading my children to a place where being successful might only be realised by those who are creative, curious and innovative.  A future where people may only be hired for not only what they know but for what they can do with what they know.

 Successful individuals consider being creative as the most important leadership skill. For this reason,  l resolved to unearth my kid’s talents and  develop them now because the future starts now.  No matter how ridiculous the excuses get. The idea is to give them space to be creative and express their true selves through doing what they enjoy.

Your children are not your children, they are the son’s and daughters of life longing itself. They come through you, but not from you and although they are with you they do not belong to you. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts. They have their own thoughts, you may house their bodies, but not their souls for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow (Khalil Gibran).