Parenting a Teenager While Growing a Legacy
Maddison: Ma! What does mom stand for?
Me: — {Silence}
Maddison: mom M.O.M. - Made Of Money! LOL!
Me: — {Stares blankly at her and rolls eyes}
That’s what Maddison told me one day a few years ago. Honestly, that’s how she sees me. I am Ms. Make-It-Happen and she wouldn’t have it any other way. As long as I can remember, Maddison has had the highest expectations of me as it relates to ensuring that she has certain life experiences. Can I tell you how weighty that is?!
On the other hand, this child was once a hater of me working my behind off in my businesses! Out of the mind of a kid, she wanted the things, but she also wanted me. Sharing me with the business was not on her radar.
It has taken several years and A LOT of explaining to get her to understand that in order for me to give her the things she needs and want, will require me to put a lot of energy into my work. Especially since I am self-employed and my income is determined upon my own efforts.
One day when Maddison was about seven years old, she said, I don’t want to work a job, I want to own the job. I would like to believe that my entrepreneurial pursuits influenced her decision.
Today, she has ambitions to attend college to major in finance and become an investor in both stocks and real estate.
We often talk about her goals and desires. I get super geeked out when she voluntarily asks about certain business concepts. I have found joy in explaining to Maddison how to engage with clients and customers. She says often you are always making friends with people or know someone everywhere we go. These intangibles are imperative for her future success.
As of late, Maddison has become an accountability partner. She’ll ask me if I’ve gotten a new client, sold a policy, booked the booth or recruited a new agent. These days, compared to when she was much younger, she can see how these activities get her closer to having the things she desires. For me the pressure is not less, but I love how she has a better understanding of what is required of me to accomplish this.
If you're reading this as a parent, can you relate? Does your kid want all of your time and all of the things simultaneously? How do you manage the two?