“Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.”

—

From Tina Fey’s book, _Bossypants_, part of her “Mother’s Prayer for Its Daughter”.

The whole prayer is great (you can hear her reading an excerpt in this interview with Terri Gross here) and hits on so many of a parent’s hopes and fears for her child (I especially liked, and related to, the part where she hopes that cutting grapes in half, today, will one day prevent her daughter from trying crystal meth — and “stick with beer” instead).

But I most love the quote above, because it’s a fantasy that a child will get the “perfect” career — and some agony about whether such a thing exists —  from a famous working mother who appears, truly, to have it all.   

No one has it all, of course, not even really happy people, not even really successful people.  But aren’t her dream jobs interesting?  Architecture, midwifery, golf course design … 

What is a dream job?  What are the ideal hours or industry or work parameters that would make it feel “just right”?   Would it be a job that allowed you to bring your child along, like Sacagewea did?  Would you be your own boss, or work for someone else?

And what kind of work do you dream for your child to do someday?  What would make you proud?

And if you’re an architect, midwife or golf course designer, is it all it’s cracked up to be?