Nurturing our children's passions

[Evening Mist]

I'm entirely enjoying the fact that each of my children has unique interests and they throw themselves so whole heartedly into loving what they love, and pursuing what they care about. As an adult, I so often have difficulty just identifying my passions, let alone pursing them with confidence! With children -- its different.

I love finding ways to encourage their interests, and experience their passions with them. My older son loves plants, and for his sake I do a garden with him every year, and help him to learn about and take care of a variety of houseplants.

My littler son loves athletics. I've never cared for sports, but seeing them through his eyes has really illuminated to me how amazing it is that he has a wonderful body that can do so many cool things! I take him to tumbling class, I got him his own exersize mat, and a couple of "jerseys" so he can dress like grown-up athletes.

I love to see how interested my nephew is in "how things work." I love the fact that since I'm not his mother, I get to laugh someday when he dissassembles his mother's toaster oven!

I'd love to hear about everyone's children and their unique passions, and how we as parents work to nurture and share those passions.

 

[lucypevensie]

It is admirable how you encourage your children in their passions and talents.

Our 2 kids are so much like myself and my husband that we don't have to go out of our way much to encourage/nuture their interests.

My daughter is like me and likes arts and crafts. When she gets home from school in the afternoon often the first thing she does is go sit down and make the day's art project again--at home. I'm so excited for her because her school has a very awesome art teacher that she will get to work with next year. I know she will love it.

My son loves cars, trucks, motorcycles, tools, engines, trains, anything boys love. At 4 years old he is already helping Dad with car repairs and such things. Today they worked on the furnace together.

 

[Etharia]

I have always loved to draw, and although my daddy does not draw, he was always the first person I would show my latest picture to. He always encouraged me to draw. And when I would show him a picture, he would tell me I did a great job and then we would sit down and he would point and different things and instead of saying things like, "you drew this wrong" he would say things like, "you see how you drew this? why don't you go look at a real one and we'll talk about how it's different then yours and how it's the same as yours." He taught me to observe everything I look at and then draw it and always encouraged my drawing.

 

[HesMyAll]

I think that my daughter will grow up to be a Veterinarian. If I allowed her to, she'd have every stray animal she found living with us!

 

[JOYfulbeliever]

My parents were (and still are!) HUGE supporters of my passions and dreams. And I can tell you, one of the biggest things they did for me was being my number 1 biggest fan. I played sports in high school, and in 4 years, I can probably count on one hand the number of games that one or the other of them missed - and when they missed, it was with good reason. I've danced since I could walk, and I've chased my dreams since I put on my first pair of ballet shoes. My dad especially, encouraged me in this. I can even remember days when he would take me to class and we would come home and he would want me to show him the new steps I had learned. When I couldn't get a step just right, he would get up and try to learn it with me and for a guy that hasn't got a lick of rhythm, this was absolutely one of the best things he could have done for me! He helped me have fun - because I usually ended up laughing hysterically at him - and he also encouraged me to keep trying until I was satisfied with what I had done. Now, I'm teaching other children dance. There are so many kids who are in my classes that have absolutely no desire to be there, but their parents have decided that they are going to take dance lessons. My heart breaks for these kids. Then there are others who truly enjoy it. Some are not great...some are awesome. Each has their own talent and they just need encouragement and confidence that they can do it. Kids are sooooo impressionable.

 

[Bambi]

How do I nurture my children's passions? By driving them all the time! Either my husband or I go to our 16 yr. old son's soccer games while the other one of us goes to the cross country meet of our 12 yr old and gives our 14 yr. old her ride to ballet classes(every evening at this stage). On Wednesdays we take our 9 yr. old to gymnastics. And in our spare time we play Duplos with our 5 yr. old and have tea parties with our 2 yr. old. Occassionally, one of the older children will get a part at the local theater center, and that adds a few weeks of daily rehearsals. Also, my husband or I may decide to take a class or be in a play also. So, I support our passions by being the wheels to get there, the shoulder to cry on, the supper that's always ready, and the glue that holds everyone together. I love the moments I get to spend with each child as I drive them to and from events. (I wouldn't be able to do so much if I didn't have two teens to babysit for me while I drive-I can't wait til they can drive themselves and their siblings, though.)

 

[HeatherJay]

My two girls (ages 2 and 4) both LOVE animals. We have 2 cats, 2 dogs and a fish, but they're always bringing in frogs and lizards. My 4 year old, Emily, is pretending to be either a horse or a dog more than she acts like a little girl My little one, Eden, wants to do whatever her sister does. They love Jeff Corwin and the Crocodile Hunter. Emily constantly amazes me with all the animal facts she picks up from TV or stories we read to her...she just seems to soak up everything and remember it all. She laughs at me because I scream when she finds a frog in the yard and brings it to show me...I get that 4 year old look like "What are you freaking out about?? It's just a frog, Mom." She saw a beautiful caterpillar in the woods with her Daddy yesterday and has not stopped talking about it since...how many legs it had, how many stripes...she's just truly fascinated. She's the reason we ended up with dogs...she and her Daddy found a litter of mangy little hound dogs who weren't being taken care of at all. They rescued them and they've been with us for about 3 weeks now. She feeds them and waters them every single day with her Daddy and she's so excited to do it. She has such a kind heart and I think it's wonderful that she has such passion for God's beautiful (and icky) creatures.


Love, Heather

 

[Evening Mist]

My 3 yo. just came up to me while I was reading. He does this thing where he takes me face in his hands and turns it toward him when he wants to get my attention. So he did that, and he said,
"The Cowboys won the football game today and the Eagles lost."
Silly me, responded by saying, "Oh, thats nice."
He looked horrified.
It was if I swore at him or something.
"NO, Mommy. Thats not NICE. Thats TERRIBLE. We're VERY sad about this!!!"

He's only THREE!!!

 

[HeatherJay]

My 3 yo. just came up to me while I was reading. He does this thing where he takes me face in his hands and turns it toward him when he wants to get my attention. So he did that, and he said,
"The Cowboys won the football game today and the Eagles lost."
Silly me, responded by saying, "Oh, thats nice."
He looked horrified.
It was if I swore at him or something.
"NO, Mommy. Thats not NICE. Thats TERRIBLE. We're VERY sad about this!!!"

He's only THREE!!!

LOL. That's hilarious! My little one (she's 2) shouts out "Go Titans!" during every single football game that her Daddy watches...LOL, of course it sounds more like "O I-Ans!" but it's still adorable. You little boy sounds like he's well on his way to being every father's dreamchild...LOL. Congratulations

Love, Heather