Down The Rabbit Hole
Saturday was my son Matt’s birthday, he’s 17 now. I went over to my ex’s to have dinner with them in celebration. Hard to believe he’s nearly grown. He’s a junior in high school right now, he’ll graduate in 2009. He’s at that point where he’s trying to get a part time job to earn a few bucks, trying to figure out what he wants to do when he graduates, etc.
I’ve encouraged him not to rush right into college. I think for many kids it’s a mistake to do that because they really don’t know what they want to do in life. I think he’ll take a year or two off and get a little “life experience” under his belt first. After that, he’ll have a better idea what he might want to do.
I’m hoping he’ll choose to do something artistic or socially meaningful. The kid has incredible talent when it comes to graphic arts and I hope he’ll leverage those skills, even if it means being a starving artist. I’d hate for him to become just another corporate suit. No offense if you’re a corporate suit, I’m guilty too. I just think there’s too many of us already.
And of course, Lindsey isn’t far behind. Next year when Matt turns 18 and begins his adult life, Lindsey will become a teenager with all that entails. It’s an exciting, and scary, time to be a dad let me tell you!
Maybe he can be a corporate suit that designs games for Blizzard.
My brother is fixin to be a Dad. I told him I think he’s going to have a girl. And she’s going to torture him. MWUAHAHA!!
M~
I think you gave good advice to wait a year or so before starting college. I know I definitely wasn’t ready right out of highschool. My son did go straight into college…I’m not so sure it was the right decision..
Stacie
I think you are guiding your children down the right path, Michael. It’s obvious that you are a very good father. They will find their places in this world, that’s for sure.
I didn’t start college til I was 22. Don’t regret it one bit.
That’s where I met B. And, I had some life experiences under my belt like you said.
~S
I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do when I entered college. Changed my major four times and still crept out of there in four years. Today, after at least putting in some time doing what I got my degree in, I’m no longer sure what I want to do with my life! I think taking that time when you’re young to really explore what intrigues you is a great idea.
It is hard being a parent of teenagers.
I agreed to let my son have a year off of school. Lately I have been wondering if it was the right thing to do… your post and the comments gives me hope that I made a right decision.
All my son seems to do these days is sleep and play video games…. He does work most evenings. But still… it is driving me crazy.
“they really don’t know what they want to do in life.”
That is SO true! I think it is SO unfair to expect kids to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives at 17 or 18 years old. My niece went straight from high school to college to become a teacher…she went to all those classes, spent all that money in college, got her degree and began teaching…and then didn’t really like it.
She’s still teaching…but she’s not enjoying it as much as she thought she was going to. That’s sad.