Start with the end in mind. What do I mean by that? I am talking about when your child is ready to go out on their own and your guidance for their schooling has stopped. And, no, we never stop being a parent but there comes a time when our children need to be adults and provide for themselves and their own families.
As parents, we are responsible to guide our children to become productive and self-sufficient adults. Of course, there are exceptions and challenges to this, and some children need more coaching and direction into adulthood.
What Does Your Child want to be when they grow up?
Where do you want your child to end up? Do you want them to go to college, to a trade school, be an apprentice, work in the family business or be an entrepreneur? Did you go to college? Did you have aspirations to do something and you did it? Or did you want to do something and didn’t have the support you needed? You have the opportunity to help your child do and be something they are meant to be. It takes your coaching and direction.
Yes, it is difficult to see the future, but you can raise your child with certain goals or aspirations in mind. As you raise your child, observe them don’t just serve them. What are their interests, desires, dreams, and aspirations? Do you see yourself in them? OR. Do you see your spouse when you look at them? Do they hate school but love to make or invent stuff or create? Yes, they still need to do the things they don’t really like – maybe math – but providing opportunities to do what they love will help make that stuff less of a challenge.
Give your child the support they need to reach their potential.
One of the jobs of a parent is give their child support and help to reach their potential. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money on every want they have. When I started homeschooling, we had very little money. I found ways to bring out the creative and the curiosity. We would go to the library and parks. Museums and science centers. And more. You can find options out there for those with a limited budget.
I knew I wanted to teach them how to love learning and find out the answers on their own. I provided the material and encouraged them to make things happen. I understand not everyone is a natural teacher as I am, but you can teach yourself ways to teach them.
As a teacher, I was always finding ways to better myself and learn new things, so I could be my best for them. You don’t have to be perfect just working your way towards excellence by reading books that encourage or teach you, go to events for education, and finding a support group to help you.
My hope to encourage you to be the best you can be. If your effort today doesn’t quite reach your goal or desired outcome, there’s always tomorrow, dust yourself off and try again. Your child deserves your best effort. Never give up.
An example from my life…
My mom was a teacher, my grandmother was a teacher, my uncle and aunt, as well. My other uncle was an engineer, my dad worked on being an engineer for a few years (but had vision challenges) but instead owned his own construction company which he bought from his father. My husband’s father was an engineer, as well, and my husband started his own construction company and became a contractor.
College grads, engineers, and entrepreneurship runs in our family. Our children are currently in college – two in engineering and one in international business. They will probably be entrepreneurs to some degree, as well.
Did we make our children go to college, no. It is in the DNA of our family. They just went as their next steps in schooling. And I did everything I could to make that happen. Teaching and providing the way to get to college by helping with applications, visiting schools, etc. They are the ones following through with the skills and perseverance they learned along the way.
What’s the DNA of your family? Is it helpful to your child or do you need to change it? Be intentional and purposeful with the goals and plans you have, and they have. Help them make it happen.
Margaret Madison 
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