My son went to culinary school, and my daughter majors in theater. It's not what I planned for either of them, and that's OK.

The author's son enrolled in culinary school after high school, while her daughter is pursuing a degree in theater. The author realized she had to help her children become who they wanted to be, rather than who she had envisioned for them. When her son was in sixth grade, he asked if she planned to force him into college. He was only 12, and college wasn't a priority yet.

School didn't motivate him like it later did for his sister, who had a natural talent for hands-on work. The author had a preconceived idea of what success looked like, but she later understood that her children might not follow that path. Her son found his calling in the culinary trade program at a local community college. After graduation, he moved to Arizona to work in the restaurant industry.

The author watched her son grow more independent and confident in his chosen career. Her daughter chose to study theater at a prestigious university, and the author supported her decision, even though it raised eyebrows. The author learned that her role as a parent was to help her children become confident individuals who could pursue a life that aligned with their true selves.

Her son, now 22, is considering a career change after six years in the restaurant business. The author now asks herself if she's helping her children become who they are meant to be, rather than forcing them into a mold she had envisioned.