themselves and can do more, be more, achieve more. If we just
say “no,” they’ll grow up with low self-esteem and lacking in
confidence.
A friend recalls how she desperately wanted to be a ballet
dancer when she was 6 years old. She was already showing the
signs of being destined for her current 6 ft tall, large feet, ath-
letic build—as far from a ballet dancer as you can imagine.
Her parents must have been able to see this and could have
told her that really she should do something else. Like all-in
wrestling for kids. But instead, they found her a ballet class. It
didn’t take long for her to realize that ballet wasn’t right for
her, and she stopped going because it made her legs hurt.
However, it was her choice to stop. And she left with her self-
esteem intact. (She only wishes they hadn’t taken the photos.)
Whatever kids want to do, it is not your job to edit their
dream, stand in their way, voice your concerns, limit their
hopes or discourage them in any way. Your job is to give guid-
ance while supporting and encouraging. Your job is to give
them the resources to achieve whatever it is they want to.
Whether they do or don’t achieve is irrelevant. If they had the
chance, that’s everything.
THEY HEAR IT FROM
ALL DIRECTIONS,
AND THE WORD THAT
FIGURES MOST IN
THEIR LIVES IS “NO.”