Jimmy & Addy

These two have such fun personalities and ways about them, and they are SO DIFFERENT! This week at school they are celebrating higher education. So for today, Wednesday they were supposed to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grow up... Here is our conversations from yesterday afternoon...

Mom, "Addy, tomorrow you can dress up at school. What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Addy, "A Princess!"
Mom, " It's fun to play dress up and be a pretend princess, but what about for real? what do you want to be? You could be a doctor, or a vet, or a teacher, or a police woman..."
Addy, " I'm GOING to be a Princess when I grow up!!!"
Mom, "No, not really...that is just for play. How about... (another list of professions...)"
Addy, "FINE!!! I'll be a ballerina when I grow up!"
Mom, "Well that is something you could do, and that sounds great, BUT I don't think your ballet clothes are appropriate for school. What would be your second choice?"
Addy (now in a whiny/cry voice), " I just don't know! I only want to be a princess and a ballerina..."
She leaves the room crying... great... one failed attempt...

Now to try Jimmy...
Mom, "Jimmy, tomorrow you can dress up at school, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Jimmy, no actual words, but a deep look of concern on his face...so I continue
Mom, "You could be a doctor, or a police man, or a fire fighter, or a scientist... "
Jimmy, "I really just don't want to be any of those things."
Mom, "Ok, what do you want to be, and maybe we can make it happen."
Jimmy, no verbal response, but a stressed out look on the verge of tears.
Mom, "What about if you were your NASA t-shirt. You really like going there, and people who work at NASA are really good at math just like you."
Jimmy (tears have begun), "Can't I just be me??? I don't want to be all those other things, I really just want to be me when I grow up."
Mom (giving hugs), "Yes, of course you can be you!"
Another conversation ended in tears... great... two failed attempts.

What gets me, is though both conversations ended in tears... they were such different kinds of tears. Addy was the little miss attitude this is how it's gonna be tantrum tears. Jimmy was the soft hearted, deep, for real serious tears. It amazes me that children with the same surroundings and upbringing can be so different. Just goes to show we are all our own, very much individuals in all we do!