As a parent, it’s natural to want your children to succeed in traditional ways. We’re often told that education is the key to a successful career and a happy life. But when my daughter, Keira, told me she wanted to leave school at the age of 16 to work at Boronia Kitchen while doing TAFE, I was nothing but proud.
I’ve always tried to instil in all my children the value of hard work and following their passions. I have never wanted them to feel like they had to conform to societal norms or follow a certain path just because that’s what everyone else was doing. This is why I never told them about my own struggles with school and how I never really enjoyed it.