My daughter is about to graduate from high school, but she has no idea what she wants to do with her life. All she wants to do is fish off the end of our pier, watch the sunset, and write in her journal. Her Mom is gone, so it’s just me trying to help her. I want to give her guidance, but I don’t know what to say. Can you please help?
Signed,
Floundering Father
Dear Floundering Father,
You have all the right intentions, if not the right words.
Maybe she needs space to be a free spirit. Just support her in whatever path she needs to take. How many times in our lives as adults can we do that? As a young adult, you can give her the gift of time, to breathe, wonder and play.
Here are some ideas to spark her imagination:
• Sit down with her and ask her about her dreams. You might be surprised at
the answers.
• Buy her some credit hours at Craven Community College. Let her choose classes
that interest her, whatever they may be. Let her explore without boundaries and see
where it leads.
• Keep listening. As she explores and grows, you may also be able to improve the
communication in your relationship. As she finds her way, you can continue to guide
her toward a future that feels good for both of you.
You’re doing a great job, Papa! Don’t give up!
Love,
Henrietta
Henrietta Craven was born and raised in New Bern and enjoys gardening, hunting bears and improvisational dance. She is a self-proclaimed expert on a wide variety of subjects including (but not limited to) fashion, mixology, and cooking. Henrietta resides in a lovely Victorian home in downtown New Bern with her five cats: Graffenreid, Bethune, Devereux, Stanton and Carraway.