So the question is, then, what do you tell a child? Do you explain that not everyone has the body to be a model, the strength and agility to be an athlete, or the brains to be an engineer? Or do you say, “Yes, you can be whatever you want to be!” so that regardless of their circumstances, they grow up with a positive outlook, confidence, and ambition?

Right now I think I wouldn’t tell my kids they can be anything they want to be. Right now I think that mentality creates a sense of entitlement — the idea that we can have, do, and accomplish whatever we desire. And the fact is that we can’t. More importantly, though, I think we shouldn’t. I think I’ll teach my kids that sometimes there are things we want to do, but other things come first, and sometimes we don’t have the time or the means to do the things we want.

I think instead of telling my kids they can do whatever they want, I’ll teach them to find their natural talents and abilities, work on their weaknesses, and see what fits. I think I’ll tell them that there will be time later (in the afterlife) to do ALL of the things they want to do. We have limitations on earth, but in heaven, who knows?

I hope all of that makes sense . . . I kind of rambled, but I really did mean everything I said. :)