🌟Weekly Inspiration🌟

Many times parents express concern that their child hasn’t developed a passion by adolescence. I can literally see their child physically cringing on the couch in my office as the parents utter the words out loud. Such pressure for the kid! Of course, it is wonderful for a child or teen to have interests, and activities that excite them and bring them joy…but it’s altogether a different pressure when parents expect their teens to have a “passion” that will propel them to success or help get them into college. Childhood and adolescence—and young adulthood as well—is an experimental time in which one can try on many activities and see what interests “stick". It often takes a lot of experimentation, false starts, and fizzled passions that lead one ultimately to their true path. Outliers exist, but it is rare (and maybe a shame) ⭐.

Kids need permission from their parents to not have it all figured out. Kids need permission to try a bunch of things out to see what really interests them. Kids need permission to let go of passions that no longer serve them…which may cause sadness for the parents, but ultimately be better for the child.

Ask Yourself:

Did I have passions as an adolescent? Did my parents micro-manage those passions? Did I feel pressure?
Did my passions become my career or more of a hobby?
Do I have an expectation that my child should have a passion? If so, why? Do I have an underlying fear?
Is there beauty in a winding path-with fits and starts, periods of flow, and periods of less intensity?
Is my child trying to let go of activities no longer serving them and I find myself resisting?
How can I be less involved in my child’s direction and trust them with their choices?

Be well❤️.