That the children of successful parents turn out spoiled and lazy is a cliché that has proven itself true across time more often than any of those parents would like to admit. But there is also no shortage of examples that subvert this preconception. There are numerous professional athletes with kids who make it into the pros. Both John Quincy Adams and George W. Bush followed their fathers to the White House. There are plenty of writers and artists whose children went on to be successful in the arts.
How does this work? Obviously there was no shortage of natural talent. Nepotism too. These kids were gifted and then were given big advantages. But there is another force at play too, one that every parent should think about. Could it be that the biggest privilege afforded to these kids was seeing their parent passionately and practically pursue a career that most people have trouble even imagining? That the real gift they got was seeing that following your dreams was actually possible? And that it wasn’t magic, it was just a lot of hard work? Too many parents spend time either consciously or subtly telling their kids to think small, to be realistic, to consider the odds. But living in the same house as a professional athlete or a head of state or an award-winning author sends a powerful message: It can be done! It just takes work, dedication, and, of course, confidence.
That’s your real job, whatever you do for a living. To show them what’s possible. To push them to go for it, whatever “it” is.