[crick]

I have 11, 10,9 & 8 year olds and their "plans" for the future change all the time, which is good because it means they are exploring and developing interests all the time.

I typically encourage their interests and just go with the flow. I don't quash anything and try to help them think outside the box they are in. For example, one of my sons wants to be a spy. And he's serious about it. lol! So I encourage that avenue and talked about things like 9-11, the FBI, CIA, etc. and allowed him to see that being a spy isn't what you see in movies and how it can translate into a concrete plan. That might change tomorrow and he'll want to be a gourmet chef though, so I feel all I can really do is expand on things and keep introducing things to them.

I can see where your brother is going because you do notice what their strengths are and want to encourage that. However, if you limit their dreams and give them a push to only pursue a few areas, I think you miss out on helping them develop passion. I want my kids to truly want to do the things they do and not just because something offers a lot of money or whatever else is seen as "important".

The one thing I *do* push is being serious about their education and also how they can help themselves succeed by being in sports, music, and other ways to help them achieve whatever dreams they might have. Scholarships and things like that. They already know that it takes work to succeed and they are not going to be handed anything. We are there to help, but ultimately, it's their path to create and then follow.