Nomadic Nurse Diaries

Dear Future Parents Who Want Mini-Me’s,

Here’s something everyone needs to know—just because you loved, say, ballet or baseball doesn’t mean your kid is destined to be the next Baryshnikov or Babe Ruth. If I ever have kids (big if), I’d want to be the kind of parent who actually enjoys watching them become their own people, even if they decide their passion is something I know absolutely nothing about. Seriously, I’d be the parent cluelessly cheering from the sidelines of a robot-building competition, if that’s where they find themselves, proudly bewildered as I clap for whatever brilliant gizmo they’ve put together.

And let’s be real: your kids don’t need to be mini-you’s to be amazing. They don’t even need to follow the paths you dreamed about. They just need the freedom to find out who they are without pressure to pick up where you left off. What’s meant to be will be. Relax, let them explore, and maybe even let yourself be a little surprised by the directions they take. They’ll seek out your advice if they know you’re open and approachable—probably even more so if you’re not breathing down their neck about living up to your vision.

So here’s to the future parents who choose to raise humans, not legacy projects. Just sit back, enjoy the show, and don’t worry if their passion doesn’t line up with yours. That’s their journey, not yours. And trust me, they’ll still need you, even if their world is completely different from yours.

Cheers to letting kids be themselves,

The Nomadic Nurse