Keeping our eyes on the prize means having a picture of what you would like to see in your 18-year-old child. You can create this picture before they are even born. And if you're just reading this now and your kid is 17, you can do it now. Grab their other parent, sit down and start a conversation.
Having a picture in mind does not mean saying you want to raise a baseball player or a farmer. That's what's on your mind. Having a picture means having a picture of the character you would like to teach and and ideas about the things you would like to expose your child to. Your goal is to help shape the person your child will become.
Here are just a few suggestions to consider:
You get the idea? The list is non-exhaustive. Being intentional with our kids allows them to be more informed as they begin to shape their interests in middle school. Some of the things we model or expose them to they'll grab on to because it resonates with them. Some of them will be fleeting - like waiting for the tennis lessons to end because they just don't like it. It all works together to shape our kids.
Along the way - as we mentor, teach and model - be sure to include the characteristics of the kind of citizen you want to contribute to the planet. Do you want them to recognize and value others? Do you want them to work for a living? Be educated? Trained? Find ways to allow your kids to see the characteristics you're aiming for in action. Introduce them to people living the kind of life or career you admire. There's nothing like a real-life mentor.
What we aim for, we achieve. If we don't have a plan in mind, we end up with confused 18-year-olds who aren't sure about their purpose. Those kids don't know how to stand on their own and move forward. Rather than solving things for them or telling them what to do, let's equip them so they can make informed decisions on their own with confidence.