Now that I'm all grown up I believe that the best way to ensure that your ship comes in is to launch one. Expecting something to materialize without your input can indeed lead to a lifetime sitting on a rotting deck.

When my children were young I contemplated how best to time following my dreams and going after my goals. We decided that we couldn't wait, so we proceeded, but put our children in the heart of our plans.

Whatever stage my children were in, we wrapped our endeavors around that stage. I've always enjoyed writing and shooting pictures. So, when my children were young I wrote and submitted their pictures to publications for parents.

I decided to return to graduate school when my oldest two were 5 and 2. I became pregnant the second year of my doctoral studies. When my son was born, I read from my textbook instead of nursery stories. He was delighted.

Although fiction writing isn't my strength, I wrote stories for my youngsters, and encouraged them to do the same.

When I wanted to start a tutoring program, my children were clients and assistants. Later, when I wanted to start a gift basket business, my children helped with designing, stocking, and delivery.

There were some things I did postpone until they were older, like going to Disneyland, for example. Everybody had to be potty trained and walking before I consented to tackle an amusement park.

But I urge parents not to postpone their dreams and goals until some distant future. Involve your children in your dreams and goals and it will benefit them and you in many ways.