Many parents expect children to attend college after high school. But is it healthy for parents to build up expectations like this for their kids?
Before parents create arbitrary expectations, they might want to consider if focusing on these expectations could actually hinder the natural gifts of their children. Sometimes an investment in something other than college is the best option for our kids.
Why Parents Should Not Always Expect Children to Attend College After High School
Humans naturally fall into patterns of behavior. Our tendency to form habits extends to how parents bring up their children and the expectations they create for them. In the minds of many parents, a college education is simply the proper next step after a child has graduated from high school. After all, that is what all successful people do, right? Parents cough up the money to send their children to college, expecting that this will be the start of their path to success.
Then, when a child’s only achievements in college involve accruing debt and consuming alcohol, parents can end up a little disappointed. The Bible advises parents to bring up their children in “the way they should go.” I would counsel moms and dads to think about exploring and investing in the gifts and abilities that their children naturally possess. Your children may not need college to strengthen their talents or pave their way to success. Investing time and effort in fostering the natural gifts of your children may keep you from spending a lot of money in exchange for disappointing results after college.
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