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Teach Your Children To Dream
By Rory Stern | January 17, 2009
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Earlier today on Twitter,* I was having a conversation with a friend who I really admire. I don’t know if he realizes his impact on me, but it’s actually really inspiring to find wisdom from a 13-year-old boy who runs his own company.
Yep – that’s right!!! Go ahead and take a second to re-read that last if you have to.
The conversation started out innocently enough while exchanging a few “tweets” about video games. He had mentioned that he and his mother were playing Need For Speed, and I commented that I really LOVE that game, but have recently switched to the Nintendo Wii.
The next few tweets we exchanged were about whether I had bought the Nintendo Wii for myself of for my kids. I told him it was for my wife and I, but that our 3 1/2 year old daughter enjoys to play bowling, tennis, boxing, and golf.
His reply sort of made me think: “Wow, impressive for her age.”
This comment got me thinking. Here was a 13-year-old successful entrepreneur (who has been on television I might add) telling me about my impressive daughter.
I wondered – Did he realize how impressive all of his accomplishments are so far?
This series of tweets led me to reflect on my two children and what they have accomplished so far. Both of my children were early walkers (9 months and 8 1/2 months old respectively). At age 2, my daughter had learned to count to twenty in English and Spanish (thanks Dora!). Most recently, my 16-month-old son has shown me that baby-proofing the house is for, well…babies… And apparently he is NOT a baby anymore because he breaks all the cabinets open.
Long story short, people told me I was crazy for inspiring my children to walk early, to learn early, and to take on bigger things in life. I just shrug my shoulders at comments like that… I don’t know any better.
My Point Is This:
I don’t know if you will find these acts as impressive as I do. I don’t know… My kids are just my kids, and I am not so certain what they have accomplished makes them any more special than other kids their own age. But I know I will never tell them that anything “is impossible.”
And as for my friend on Twitter, it’s incredibly powerful to get both business and life advice from someone who clearly has been inspired to reach for the stars from very early on! He reminds me every single day that anything is possible – no matter the circumstances.
Thank you Jason!!!
Tell Us What You Think!
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Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
January 17th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Oh, geez, Rory! Hang onto your hat! You’re in for one wild ride with those kids! Can’t wait to see what they do…and how you inspire and encourage them along the way!
And as for the general topic: I think encouraging kids’ endeavors and celebrating the PROCESS is imperative to helping them become the unique individuals they were created to be. Whether or not they succeed, when they engage essential parts of who they are and try something, we should applaud them. Eventually, they will hone in on their areas of interest and expertise, and they will soar.
January 17th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
When I was a kid the doctors told me that I had ADHD because I always asked the teacher why we were learning things that were out of date with the world, ie Shakespeare etc. I later found out that is what they say about all kids who think outside the box in a public school system. In reality I was just gifted with foresight and the ability to challenge the status quo. Great post my friend !
January 17th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Rory, I’ve always felt Jason has been one terrific kid, but then I’m his mom. But even so, he continues to amaze my husband and I with the very grown-up things he thinks about sometimes. I sit through presentations he does and even though I help him prepare for each one, he always adds his own view which on more than one occasion has brought tears to my eyes, while I stand quietly in the back of the room.
Pretty soon, they’ll be Jason’s age and you’ll wonder where the years went.
I’m so glad to hear that he makes other people “think” regardless of how he touches their lives. You are just at the beginning with your kids so enjoy them EVERY day no matter what they do.