Week 3: Hard Hats or Symphony Orchestra?

I've been taken this week by the number of people predicting Charlie's career path and hobbies based on his body movements. I got into it as well, transfixed by his hands as he lays outside in his mobile crib. He has an inquisitive and seeming playful face as he flexes his hands and fingers. I'm not sure he's yet realized that those fingers and their intricate movements are under his control, or are even his. Yet it's with no problems that I see him with a little tux, conducting Boston Pops through a Fourth of July performance. Others, in seeing this, bring up jazz player, or writer, or other noble career.

What if his hand movements mean nothing to what he will be? Or, alternatively, what if they actually do connect to who he will become, but rather than cultural icon or artistic genius, he's a construction worker, or a banker, or one of those innumerable jobs so many of us don't plan on, but fall into? I can't believe I'm already pushing him in certain directions before his eyes have even declared their final color.

Then again, what else is a parent supposed to do? I know a number of activities and interests I have now resulted from my parents pushing me to try things that I otherwise wouldn't have. But is this too early?

Reality check: I need to lighten up. He's doing what he should be doing, we're doing what we should be doing, and the days of him reaching at nothing and us filling it with something are simply wonderful.