When I Grow Up

What do you want to be when you grow up?

We ask little kids this all the time and they give the best answers. They give the best answers because they dream without limits. They don't think there are jobs they can't do. They only think about what they want to do. They don't take into consideration what talents they actually have or what is the most practical job. They don't worry about what other people would think if they took the chosen career path. They just tell you the job they think would be the coolest!

When I was five I wanted to be 2 things; a helicopter piolet and work at McDonald's. (My love for the Golden Arches has been strong for a long time!) Other than working a couple McTeacher nights, neither of those two career paths went anywhere for me. At some point, I decided those weren't realistic jobs for me. (Or maybe once I finally got to school, I realized what a glamorous life a teacher would have...)

I wonder when things changed. When did I no longer dream of asking "Do you want fries with that?" I know there was a time in high school that I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. I didn't REALLY want to be a pediatrician but I worried my friends would laugh at me if I said I wanted to be a teacher.

Now that I am older and MUCH wiser (probably), I don't worry so much about what my friends will think and I find it a little annoying that no one ever asks me now what I want to be when I grow up. I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I am 40 (ish) and have a pretty set career.

BUT I still want someone to ask. I want to dream and plan a future with the innocence of a five-year-old's mind. I want to think about my possibilities without considering my talents and abilities.

"Wanna know what I want to be when I grow up?" I know my mom and sister were sitting on the edge of their seats when I asked them that question. I even made it more exciting by making them guess.

Neither of them guessed the correct answer. Both of them were sure they were right when they said, "writer." But no, that would be boring. Who would want to do that? (Except, me. I would kind of like that. but that is NOT my answer.)

Me, being a 40-year-old, thinking like a five-year-old, I would like to be a jazz singer. But not just any jazz singer. I want to be a famous jazz singer. Think about it. Jazz singers ooze confidence and that is something I have been searching for my whole life. If I was a jazz singer, a famous one, I would be the most confident woman in the world. Plus, (adult) lady jazz singers are very sensuous and not at all awkward (not that I am saying that I am awkward, yes, I am). Who wouldn't want to be a jazz singer?

Before you start to question my career choice, remember I am thinking like a five-year-old it doesn't matter that I can't sing or that I am not sure if I even like jazz. All that matters is that I think it would be a really awesome job (and I am almost sure jazz singers get to sleep in)!

What do YOU want to be when you grow up? Think like a five-year-old. What would be the most awesome job?

When I Grow Up

Every once in a while I like to ask the girls what they want to be when they grow up.  It is fun to hear first hand their dreams and ambitions.  It is also a chance for me to make sure they will have enough money to support me when I am old... 

A1 was eager to respond.  She said, "Well, I have been thinking about this a lot and I have decided that I want to be a music teacher. Along with just about everything else.  In the summer I will be a children's entertainer.  Actually only for girls.  You know, I can dress up like a mermaid and then swim in their pool if they have one.  If they don't have a pool I can just sit on a rock and sing." Well, if doesn't look like she will be supporting me...

A2 cheerfully said, "I know what I will be.  I will be a character, like Rapunzel." Then she went back to watching TV.  I kept waiting for more but it never came.  I guess I still have hope in A3...

This time A1 turned the question on me.  She asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up.  I told her I was thinking about being a mommy and a teacher.  She said, "Those are good choices.  You already are those.  Whatever you do just don't be a hipster." Hmmm... I wasn't  really sure how to respond to that so I went with my standard, "HUH!?!"

She laughed and said, "Just don't do it. I don't think it is healthy." I would have to agree.  Wearing tight jeans probably isn't healthy, I will stick with my non-hipster pajama jeans.