We can help prepare our kids for their future career (whatever that may be).

When I was very young, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I also wanted to be a Marine, a music teacher, and a flight attendant. As children, we wish to be many things when we grow up, but sometimes wait to fully explore our options. I should have investigated all those career paths, and taken my children along for the ride.

We could have started with animals and visited a local pet hospital, animal shelter, or zoo. We would have learned the many responsibilities of a veterinarians and animal technicians. We would have discovered jobs that didn't even involve working with animals but were vital to these locations. We would have learned about the education required for each job. But we could have taken it a step further and helped out at the animal facility by taking needed supplies or simply asking how we could help.

We could have walked the path of a Marine. We could have learned about boot camp and uniforms and salutes. We would have learned about educational opportunities and service commitments. But we also could have learned how to support those serving our country. We could have written letters and sent packages from home.

We could looked around our home and talked to those who keep us comfortable and entertained. We could have watched a local repairman work on an appliance or a handyman repair something broken. We could have watched a carpenter build a house or a plumber fix a leak. We could have asked what it took to become that expert. But we could have shown our thanks by going beyond paying the bill. We could have written a note of thanks or offered a plate of cookies.

We could have talked to doctors and lawyers and observed an office. We would have studied how much education was needed for the various positions in that office. But we could also have learned what they do to support our community outside the office.

We could have talked to garbage men and cleaning teams and waitresses and asked about their jobs, both the good and the bad. We could have learned how we could make their jobs easier, and help to spread that word. We would have learned that some jobs are harder that others, and to appreciate the people that work the hard ones.

As adults, my children are choosing their career paths. But if I had started earlier exploring careers with them, we all would fully understood the most important thing about any job - the actual person who is working it.

About the Author:

Luanne Davidson is the proud mother of three adult children and wonders what might have been if she had done a thing or two differently. She writes her "Coulda, Woudla, Shoulda" column each Thursday.

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