When I Grow Up

Every so often, I like to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up. It is usually great insight. Today's talk was no exception.
In the past, JD has wanted to be a policeman/firefighter, a vet, a teacher, and a preacher. Today he added ninja or a spy to that list. He thinks the CIA might be cool, but doesn't really want to have to shoot people, which is why he'd prefer a ninja. He is pretty sure that dead people would not gross him out. In an odd sort of way, the activities he picked to participate in this summer do kind of line up with that. He will be continuing his Hapkido training and going to a day camp for drama. At the top of the list for spy training are defend yourself and pretending to be someone you're not. We may have a Cody Banks on our hands by Fall.
Nix is a bit tougher. She doesn't like to make decisions, so when asked she usually says that she doesn't know. The few I have gotten out of her are chef, fashion designer, and maybe a lawyer, just not a criminal one. Today she added FBI agent to the list. To be more specific, she'd like to work in the white collar crimes division. I wonder if that would change if I told her real art thieves don't look like Neal Caffrey? Then she fessed up that what she'd really like to do is have a job like MacGyver, but she knows that is more of a fantasy job than an actual occupation. However, she feels that, as long as she isn't a field agent, the FBI would be great. She just knows for certain that anything in the medical field is out and is certain that she could not handle dead bodies.
I can't wait to see what they turn out to be when they grow up. At one time, I too wanted to be a spy. I gave serious thought to being a narc, but my parents told me in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to ever be a police officer. Funny thing about being the type to want to serve and protect, you tend to also obey your parents. Instead, I fell back on the choice I made in second grade. I have a vivid memory of telling my teacher that I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. It was a good pick.