s/o what does "full potential" mean to you?

breezee_bean

In some of the posts below some of the girls said they would be happy if their child lived up to their full potential.

Jodi&Joe

full potential = works below ability.

They are one in the same, and they are not definable.  They are what they are and you just KNOW when either one is reached/not reached.

I had "works below ability" on every.freaking.report card my entire life.  In other words, I'm freaking smart --- but my laziness outweighs my smarts! 

r9stedt

Oh, I don't know...not ending up in jail, loving what he does, using his full capabilities, utilizing his strengths and overcoming his weaknesses.

Everyone's potential is different.  I don't realistically have the potential to be a doctor.  I'm not even sure if I spelled realistically correct!   

 

 

cnybride2be

i didn't say this, i said something about them not becoming criminals...but i like it 

full potential=they are happy in what they are doing because they feel justified in putting to use whatever skill set they posess to make their lives go on.

supporting themselves, giving me DILS and a couple of grandbabies are on my wishlist too.  but i'd be happy if they were happy.

eclaires

I think it's child dependent. 

FWIW, I won't be disappointed b/c Jackson didn't go to college if it's not for him.  I'll be disappointed b/c I think it's a fantastic experience that I don't want him to miss out on.  Not because I think it will give him a better life, or more money or material things, but because I think it's a lot of fun and I want him to have that experience.

It's similar to how I'll feel if we don't get to take him traveling to many different places - it's a great experience that I want for him.  Like a million other things.

oparcm

Full potential for me is the true measure of the inner self.  I want dd to work hard on anything she does.  I want her to be kind to people and do the right thing.  I want her to find the positives.  I want her to help when she can and treat ppl like she would want to be treated.  I know this sounds basic but to me that is the true measure of a person.  A degree doesn't give someone these qualities. 

femmegem

eclaires:

I think it's child dependent. 

FWIW, I won't be disappointed b/c Jackson didn't go to college if it's not for him.  I'll be disappointed b/c I think it's a fantastic experience that I don't want him to miss out on.  Not because I think it will give him a better life, or more money or material things, but because I think it's a lot of fun and I want him to have that experience.

It's similar to how I'll feel if we don't get to take him traveling to many different places - it's a great experience that I want for him.  Like a million other things.

Ditto, every word. I have friends who have a daughter in her 20s. They both have advanced degrees (she has a PhD, he's an opthalmologist) but their daughter was clearly never someone who enjoyed school. She did try going to a small arts college to study drama for a year, but hated it and dropped out. They're completely okay with her decision. I learned a lot watching them go through this all. The important thing for me is that my children be happy while not hurting other people or doing anything illegal.

I'd love Alex to experience college. Beyond everything I learned in my classes, it was such a life-changing time for me. But if it's truly not for him, then I'll be okay with it.

breezee_bean

thanks girls!

I struggle with the whole full potential thing.  DH is SUPER smart and didn't want to go to college, he wanted to become a music producer.  His parents told him that was fine, but he needed to get a college degree (which they paid for fully) before he pursued that.  *They* knew that his "full potential" was in addition to becoming a music producer and they wanted him to explore that. MH is totally, 100% grateful they pushed him to going to college.  But I realize that college isn't for everyone.  

 

Bellisimo

For me, as it pertains to DS, it means to use every ounce of his God given intelligence, wit, charismatic personality and talent to his utmost benefit.  If you've got it, use it!  Use it or lose it.  I know he's capable of certain things, so I have certain expectations.  Those expectations will obviously change as he grows, develops, learns, etc.  But the way I see it, it can only go up from here.  If he decides to slack in school, hang with the wrong crowd, get hooked on drugs, drop out of school or whatever worst case scenarios you can think of, surely I'll be disappointed because I'm raising him to know better and hopefully he won't stray much from what we teach him or the examples we display.

breezee_bean

Bellisimo:

For me, as it pertains to DS, it means to use every ounce of his God given intelligence, wit, charismatic personality and talent to his utmost benefit.  If you've got it, use it!  Use it or lose it.  I know he's capable of certain things, so I have certain expectations.  Those expectations will obviously change as he grows, develops, learns, etc.  But the way I see it, it can only go up from here.  If he decides to slack in school, hang with the wrong crowd, get hooked on drugs, drop out of school or whatever worst case scenarios you can think of, surely I'll be disappointed because I'm raising him to know better and hopefully he won't stray much from what we teach him or the examples we display.

wonderfully worded!  Thank you, Bellis.