Billionaire Elon Musk’s mother shared that she taught her son to do adult jobs and pursue his own interests.
Tosca, Elon, Maye and Kimbal Musk (Ảnh: Maye Musk).
“I love my kids. I’m proud of everything they’ve done,” Maye Musk said. “The oldest, Elon, founded an electric car that helps protect the environment and builds rockets. The middle 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Kimbal, started an organic restaurant and is now teaching the kids to grow vegetables. The youngest, Tosca, is now producing and directing films for the company she manages. People often ask me how I raised my kids to be so successful. I often tell them, I taught them to work hard and pursue their interests.”
Let your 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren work from a young age
At 31, Maye Musk became a single mother of three. She shared that she never felt guilty about spending most of her time working, because it was her only choice. For her, taking care of her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren was her top priority. She worked so that her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren could have a home, be well fed, and be well dressed.
Maye began working for her father at the age of eight. She often accompanied her mother to his therapy clinic, which was located next door, to help out. Maye and her twin sister, Kaye, were paid 5 cents an hour to help him deliver the monthly mail.
“My father used to write short notes and manuscripts. After Kaye and I copied them on wax paper, we would sit down, fold the notes in thirds, put them in envelopes and put stamps on them. Within a month, we made about 1,000 of these.”
At age 12, she and her sister worked as receptionists at a private clinic. There, they greeted patients, took X-rays, and saved copies until needed. She was treated and trusted as an adult. She later used this parenting style with her own 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren.
Since 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood, her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren have helped her with errands at a nutrition company. Tosca drafted doctor’s letters, Elon handled word processing, and Kimbal assisted with other tasks.
“When we lived in Bloemfontein, I put Tosca to work at my modelling and image school,” she says. “Imagine, an eight-year-old teaching catwalks, running shows and doing etiquette. I even let her manage the wardrobe for my shows.”
Let your 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 decide what he wants.
“I raise them the way my parents raised me when I was young: independent, tolerant, honest, caring and polite. I teach them the importance of working hard and doing good. I don’t treat them like 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren or scold them. I also never tell them what to study. I don’t check their homework, that’s their responsibility,” she said.
Mrs. Maye lets her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren take responsibility for their own decisions
As her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren grew older, Maye let them make their own decisions. Tosca chose her own high school. All of her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren applied to their favorite colleges, seeking scholarships and taking out student loans.
“Children should not be overprotected. My 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren are successful because they saw me work hard to build a home, eat from hand to mouth, and buy secondhand clothes. When they went to college, they lived in pretty bad conditions: not even a mattress on the floor, six people living in a leaky house, but they were fine. If your 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren are not used to a luxurious lifestyle, they will learn how to survive in any situation. You don’t have to spoil your 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. If they are safe, let them take care of themselves.”
Many parents feel pressured to care for their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. As a nutritionist, Maye often had to work with so much anxiety that she forgot to eat or drink, thinking about how her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 could get into a good school.
Her advice to such parents is to let their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren take responsibility for their own future. If they want to work, encourage them. Teach them the rules, and let them decide for themselves what they want.
