When I was very young (4 or 5 years old), I knew that I wanted to be a writer. When I was a little older (5th or 6th grade) I decided to channel that writing into journalism. I got sidetracked for a few years in college and graduate school but eventually returned to journalism, where I've been happy ever since.
When Colter was very young, he wanted to be a train conductor. I never seriously considered that he would become one. Then, he fell in love with dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist. This was an ambition that made his parents proud. Gary encouraged him by bringing home real dinosaur bones from work sites, and I bought him real tools and excavation equipment. He spent hours using it. I thought this one might stick. Until his kindergarten graduation, when his teachers announced that Colter aspired to be a mall owner! No more weekends at the mall for us!
For several years after that, he didn't really have a career in mind (he never wanted to be a firefighter or policeman or soldier). So I was surprised when he announced recently that he wants to be a video game developer. But I think he'd be a great one, with his imagination, math skills, and passion for electronics.
The truth is, as long as he's happy and helping others, it doesn't matter that much to me how he chooses to earn a living.
What is it that kids find so intriguing about the garbage collector? My son wanted to do that for awhile, and now he wants to be a gas station man. He likes to clean the windows when we stop for gas.
Posted by: frankie | October 04, 2004 at 05:25 PM
Ben (4 1/2) has wanted to be a garbage collector since he was 2. Recently he decided also to be a volunteer firefighter, but the garbage collecting job comes first.
(Trash day's a big day around here.)
Posted by: kris | October 03, 2004 at 06:54 PM
It changes from month to month. So far, she wants to be the owner of a candy store, a swim teacher, an author, an illustrator, a professional soccer player, and/or a bug scientist.
Posted by: betty | October 02, 2004 at 01:44 AM
Jackson (age 5), wants to be: an engineer (the kind who drives trains), a farmer (raising chickens for their eggs, not meat), a daddy, and a teacher. He's a very sensitive boy with big feelings. I keep thinking, because he's so much like me, that he may even end up being a writer one day.
Posted by: Toni | October 01, 2004 at 05:26 PM
A soccer-playing teacher and a sword fighter here. Busy Baby, well, he didn't say specifically, but I think basketball player may rank right up there!
Posted by: Busy Mom | October 01, 2004 at 12:44 PM
If I were to put all of his "I wanna be's" together it would be something like a train engineering - police protecting - fire fighting - preacher.
(Did I miss a couple there? Yeah I think I did, but I'm so exhausted right now, I can't think.)
Posted by: VJ | September 30, 2004 at 10:58 PM
I just asked him this very question. He answered without hesitation, "Batman."
Posted by: terrilynn | September 30, 2004 at 05:03 PM
Kayla for the longest time has wanted to be a nurse and a ballerina. She also wants to play the guitar in a blue grass band and play lacrosse. She has even gone as far to say that she wants to have sextuplets (after watching a show about the Dilley family) and be married to a little boy named Shawn down the road from us. What a busy future.
Posted by: Nikki | September 30, 2004 at 01:54 PM
Paul has always wanted to something with electricity or pyrotechnic things. He is moving righ along with that, so I am pretty sure he will do something in those if not both things.
Sean wants to be a Hero and a Dr. We shall see.
Daniel wants to be a dad.
Peter is whatever his brothers want to be. I am sure he will find what he likes as he gets older and learns.
Posted by: Shelly | September 30, 2004 at 12:23 PM
Critter either wants to be a doctor or a teacher. He used to want to be an alien, but I think he outgrew that ;)
Posted by: Alexia | September 30, 2004 at 09:17 AM
For the past two years she has been adamant about becoming a Marine Biologist and studying Dolphin behavior. Over the past two weeks her 6th grade class has been studying the Ice Man of the Alps and she is keenly excited about the prospects of this type of research.
Posted by: Nancy | September 30, 2004 at 09:13 AM
Hannah says she wants to be a hairstylist like me,I really don't want her to be.But if thats what she chooses,ok.Mallory says a professional soccer player,and Seth?He could care less right now.lol
Posted by: emily | September 30, 2004 at 08:27 AM
I ask Isaac what he wanted to be when he grew up and he said, "I dunno." After a few moments of consideration, I'm happy with that. After all, he is only 3.
Posted by: April | September 30, 2004 at 08:20 AM