As parents, we are often torn between what we want for our children and what they actually need.
We want what we think is best for them, but we can be blinded by love, concern, and fear.
Our own hopes, desires, aspirations, and regrets get in the way of seeing what they truly need from us.
Instead of seeing who they are, we see who we want them to be.
But our children are so much more than simply who we raise and teach them to be.
We can try to mold and shape them with the best of intentions, but they have a say.
Their personalities and characters exist apart from, and even in spite, of what we want for them.
It is our job to look past our own expectations, to see our children for who they truly are, and to help them to become the best version of that person.
Our job as parents is to be good stewards of our children’s potential.
This means understanding that their potential is not bound by our limitations.