I've seen the future and.....

When Olivia was about 4 years old, she got her life plan in order. I know, I know. 4 year olds generally focus on shorter term goals, like riding a bike without training wheels, learning to jump rope, or consistent wins in Candyland. But not our Liv. She had made up her mind about the future. I'm thinking she was heavily influenced by the fact that we lived on 3½ acres in the country at the time. Farming fields behind our house and across the road from us as well. Combines a common site. So, farming it was. She proudly announced she was going to be a farmer.
"That's wonderful, honey. So, what kind of farming do you intend to do, corn and soybeans?"
"Ut uh."
"Oh, okay then. Dairy farmer?"
"No. I don't like cows."
Stumped, I curiously asked, "So what farming are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna be a Tic Tac farmer."

To this day I can't eat a Tic Tac without smiling. I do think there's a bit of serious commitment to her dream though, because Liv's latest obsession (she has many) is with the idea that she (and just imagine the strength it took to keep a straight face when she announced this) is "going to be Amish" when she grows up. She wants me to print Amish coloring pages.
Digs out Just Like Mama , an Amish story by Beverly Lewis, and dissects the words and illustrations.
Agonizes over whether she'll join an order that only wears black "because I prefer to be a more colorful Amish woman." Oy vey!

So imagine my intrigue when Reece, age 8, told me the other day that he too had decided on farming (we no longer live in the country and there are no farmers in this family, so I have no idea where his inspiration came from.)
I began.
"Farming?
Reeeally?
Well since you love cows, I'm sure you'll be a dairy farmer, right?"
He giggled as if my cow suggestion was the silliest thing he'd ever heard, then added, "NooOOoo, Mom. I'm not gonna have cows. I'm gonna be a marble farmer."

But of course.
Why didn't I think of that?

Hey, at least they're not highly flooded markets or weather dependent crops, Tic Tacs and marbles. My kids know how to enter an untapped market, I tell you.
Oh c'mon! You know you wish your kids had such brilliant vision.

Toni