“As parents we don’t raise babies, we raise adults”. Ik kijk naar een interview met Michelle Obama over haar boek ‘Becoming’. Ik hang aan haar lippen. What charisma does this woman have and she’s saying such sensible things! I quickly pick up pen and paper, one impressive one-liner after the other rolls off her tongue. She speaks about her personal experience and it is evident that her mother has had a positive influence on her. Her vision on education/parenting does not only sound like music to my ears, but it is also very familiar. Letting children try things for themselves, to not stifle them, to make them understand they matter and that their opinion counts. And thus not want to resolve everything for them, setting boundaries and intervening when it seems to go wrong. Out of equality and not authority. That is how I look at education/parenting.
When my children were still very small, this didn’t always work out. Still, I always consciously worked on this, even did some courses together with my better half under the guise of; two know more than one. Even when that is far from the truth sometimes, it is still better than both not knowing what to do. At least that’s my experience.
The title of Michelle’s book is ‘Becoming’, with this she wants to say is that we always continue to develop as a human beings. You are always on your way to a new version of yourself and are allowed to make new choices every time. She thinks the stupidest question that we ask our children is: “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. As if adulthood is the ending/for ever. To which I want to add; as if you have nothing left to learn as an adult.
I think in my life I have honestly learned the most because and from my children.They put a mirror in front of me on a daily basis. It is in those moments when I’m prepared to look into it, that I discover a new side of myself. Not always amusing, but always insightful. To be able to make new decisions each time, is also very important to me. Choices are not for the rest of your life, you are allowed to change your mind and discover that there are other options which you want to explore. In her book, Michelle Obama says she wants to stimulate young people to try different things. And indeed, why should you, at such a young age, decide on forever?
Nonsense if you ask me.
In my lifetime I have also tried multiple professions, until I discovered that by being myself completely, combining all my talents, and no tot let myself be led by a career choice, I created my own “job”. What a relief.
I believe/suspect this is the same for Michelle Obama. Of course she often gets the question if she is ever going to run for president. The answer is apparently in her book. I have just started reading it, and I haven’t come across it yet. But it won’t surprise me if she won’t let herself be trapped in a vocation or job title. Whatever she choses is fine, as long as she keeps preaching her message.
It is clear/It is obvious… I’m a fan!