Season 3 Episode 56

In this episode, Theo and his friend, Cockroach, decide that they want to learn how to fly. Even though she is not fond of the idea, Claire gives him permission to take flying lessons…she wants to encourage him in his dreams. Ultimately, Theo and Cockroach decide that becoming pilots is impractical since they will not have any free time as they will be working so much to pay for their lessons.

All kids have dreams and we need to be prepared to encourage them. I appreciate four things that Cliff and Claire did when Theo wanted to take flying lessons…

1. They did not immediately say no…they discussed his interest and agreed to consider it. How often do we have a knee-jerk reaction and say no when our children ask to try something new? Especially if it is inconvenient or expensive…or if it is the third request in three days. Like Claire, we should commit to encourage their dreams.
2. Once they learned more about it, they discussed the challenges…costs, time commitment, safety concerns, and so. Including our kids in this discussion can be a great learning opportunity…it gives them a chance to weigh the pros and cons. Counting the cost is a life skill that will serve them well as they grow.
3. After they agreed to allow Theo to move forward, they held him responsible for his pursuit. For example, he had to get a job to pay for the lessons. They were careful that Theo’s dream did not become their dream. How often do we step in, take over and facilitate or manipulate the dream? When pursuing a dream, a child needs to be held responsible and invest in the dream.
4. In the end, when Theo reconsidered his dream, Cliff and Claire did not say “I told you so.” Because of the decision-making process they had gone through, they respected his decision and moved on.