When I grow up.......

I think the Pussycat Dolls sang "when I grow up I wanna be......."

But I wonder how many of us are doing what we imagined ourselves doing as adults, when we were kids?

If our younger selves met us today would they be proud, would they think we'd sold out, would they think "what a waste". I mean REALLY who imagines themselves being a...I don't know, waitress, barmaid, office worker, dustman, someone who counts bricks, accountant.

Where are all the exciting jobs? Who's doing them? Are we?

Just today the following jobs are advertised in my area with the job centre :-

Youth Worker, Account Manager, Advertising Sales Exec, Air Conditioning Engineer, Avon Representative, Bricklayer, Audit Specialist, Care Worker, Cleaner, Deep Cleaner (not sure if this is deep underwater/underground or if you have to just be really thorough?!)

I mean these are all good jobs. They pay the bills. They don't sound too horrendous - BUT - I bet not a single one of them would have featured in our childhood ambitions. Where are the astronauts, doctors, actors, rock stars.....IMAGINE a job advert WANTED...ONE ROCK STAR...MUST HAVE OWN LEATHER TROUSERS!

When I was very young I wanted to be a prima ballerina. When I got a little older I wanted to be a nurse and a mum. NOW...well I'm an Estate Agent and an Administrator. I had the opportunity to go to stage school as I was a talented dancer. NOW I can barely touch my toes and haven't been on a stage in years.

My husband wanted to be in a band. NOW he's a hot air balloon pilot. Ok that is actually quite windswept and interesting and I know I've blown my argument out of the water here.

But I urge you...look back at your younger self...what did you want to be when you grew up - are you doing it? I don't know any astronauts but I knew a lot of boys at school that wanted to be one. I don't know any train drivers, again I knew a lot of boys at school that wanted to be one.

I asked my children what they would like to be when they grow up and it was fascinating to hear what they came up with - I HOPE they get the lives they dream of. I HOPE they fulfil their own potential and I HOPE they don't end up doing something mundane, simply to pay the bills, when they could have reached for the stars.

& what do they want to be? My eldest (12) wants to be an actor, a director, a formula one racing driver and a rock star - but says he'd also like to learn a trade as he hears me wittering on about "you'll always need a plumber!" My youngest (5) wants to fly balloons like his daddy and be a rock star. Quite frankly I'd be delighted if they achieved any of those things....who wouldn't, they sound exciting. Neither of them can see why they can't be all of those things at the same time, seems fair enough to me - GO FOR IT...WHY NOT.