Hi there, it's Finley 👋🏼 and Happy Friday.

Today's story takes 2 minutes to read.

*Fair warning, it's almost football season and I have more references that I expected to have.

I'm developing a workshop for parents to help prepare your family for your child's first phone, click here and I'll send you more information.

Everyone Hates the Longhorns

By the time I was 5 years old, I already hated Texas. The burnt orange, the fight song, the glib way they carried themselves (even though I didn't know the word glib at age 5).

When I was a kid, I assumed everyone from Texas was to be hated. Of course, that's a child's perspective.

Not everyone from Texas liked the Longhorns I found out. Some people cheered for the Aggies. I grew to despise them as well.

But why? How could a young boy feel so deeply about a team so early in life?

Because in my family we are Razorbacks and we hate losing to Texas.

The reason I love the Hogs and hate Texas?

My father. That's the world he raised me in.

Why did he hold this belief? Because his parents, aunts, uncles and family all hated Texas too.

Kids discover and embrace their parent's passions.

Dance.
Travel.
Sports.
Fishing.
Reading.
Cooking.
Social Life.

Think about the things YOU love or enjoy. How many of those were passed on from your parents?

This is one of the most fun parts of being a parent. Seeing your kids get excited about the same things you care about.

It could be your favorite NASCAR driver or learning an instrument that you grew up playing. No matter what the passion is, it bonds parents and kids together.

Of course, there are those kids who outright reject their parent's passions. Sometimes this is built into their personality and other times it's all in good fun.

I grew up loving the Dallas Cowboys, because my dad liked them. My sister decided she was going to be different. She wanted to cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles, their arch rival, just to make us mad.

She didn't really care about them at all. She knew she wasn't always going to embrace whatever her family did. She wanted to choose her own path.

Parent's passions connect families and
shape their kids lives.

When you realize the long term impact that your passions have on your kids, you look at them a little differently.

If you are born in the town of Green Bay, Wisconsin there is a good chance that your parents put your name on the list for Packers tickets. If you are lucky, you might get a chance to buy some by the age of 50.

If you grow up in Newport Beach, California you might be given a surf board at the age of 7 because that's when your dad started surfing.

If you grew up camping on the weekends with your family, chances are you shared a lot of core memories around a fire. You probably want something similar with your own kids.

The question is, have you ever stopped to think about how your passions will shape your child's future?

If you love baseball and want your kids to play, you'll might spend 15+ weekends a year at the ball field, and you'll love it.

If road trips are your thing, you could easily check off 50% of the states before they leave your house.

The great thing about sharing the things you love with your kids is how much it bonds you together, often for life.

It is a privilege to get to pass on our passions to our kids. Most will embrace them. Some will reject them and that's ok too.

So, mom or dad, let's have an honest moment. Have you accepted how much you are shaping your kids around your big passions?

It's a powerful connection point, so make the most of it!

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Yes -- Maybe -- No

A local counselor friend of mine is raising a sharp 5 year old. Her daughter was trying to gain some understanding about what her mom really meant when she gave her a non-committal answer.

Parents often fail to give definitive answers to their kids. There are just so many questions every day!

Here's a helpful guide she created for future reference in case you need it...

Do you agree? Disagree? I'd love to know if you have a different order!

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