"Daddy, I wanna swing on the ropes like they do at the circus."

Those were the words my 3-year-old barked at me during intermission last week while attending the Shrine Circus. Somehow she managed a sentence or two while plowing through cotton candy, nacho chips, soda, popcorn and a few items from the arena floor in 15 minutes.

And while I am a rather free spirit at heart, there was an ache in my stomach from something other than the food at the concession stand. Instead, it had to do with the fact that she wants to swing through the air in a costume that appeared to be made of dental floss high above gawking onlookers.

What about college, I wondered.

Apparently math, science, reading and such are … well, for adults. I mean really, how can solving a calculus problem compare to being shot out of a cannon or swallowing a sword or two before lunchtime?

It's not that I don't appreciate the circus and all it has to offer. In fact, the amount of skill and talent many of these performers possess is inspiring to watch. But as a career? You gotta be kidding me.

My son, on the other hand, didn't give one hoot about the elephant trainers, the clowns or the motorcycle rider inside the metal cage.

"Not me, dad. I want to push buttons in an elevator when I grow up. At the airport, too."

This is just great. I've got one child who wants to feel the burning lights of circus stardom and another that wants to be the doorman at the airport so he can fly on airplanes, his preferred mode of transportation (versus being shot from a cannon.)

But the comments from both of them did get me thinking. Why do I put undo pressure on myself to see that they fall into line and do things traditionally?

If we all lived like my kids, I am relatively certain we'd all be doing something else professionally (although I truly do love writing this little article every other week. How's THAT for kissing up?)

When you think about it, do you know anyone who said: "I want to be middle manager at a firm that under appreciates me, underpays me and overworks me?" Me neither.

If you had asked me what I was going to be when I grew up the response was simple. I was going to play first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit a game-winning home run like Bill Mazeroski did years ago.

When we got home from the circus, the first thing my daughter did was put on her princess dress and strap a guitar around her shoulder. She began to belt out "Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, here is Dr. Mia Ola!" Doctor? Where'd that come from?

While I know that my kids are still very young, I think that this trip to the circus has inspired me to change my way of thinking.

Rather than focus on things that I want my kids to consider important, I am going to focus on the things they show me are important, like performing for an audience or the mechanics that go into making elevators go up and down.

I'll let them become whoever they are supposed to be and simply hope that whatever they are makes them happy. But don't look for me to be playing for the Pirates anytime soon.