---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A mother should have some fantasy about…"
description: "\"A mother should have some fantasy about her child's future. It will increase her interest in the child, for one thing. To turn the fantasy into a progr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/james-hillman-2336_airplane_a-mother-should-have-some-fantasy-about_2468679.jpg"
---

#  A mother should have some fantasy about her child's…

![“A mother should have some fantasy about her child's future. It will increase her interest in the child, for one thing. To turn the fantasy into a program to make the child fly an airplane across the country, for example, isn't the point. That's the fulfillment of the parent's own dreams. That's…” quote by James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/james-hillman-2336_airplane_a-mother-should-have-some-fantasy-about_2468679.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/james-hillman-2336_airplane_a-mother-should-have-some-fantasy-about_2468679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/james-hillman-2336_airplane_a-mother-should-have-some-fantasy-about_2468679.jpg)

> “A mother should have some fantasy about her child's future. It will increase her interest in the child, for one thing. To turn the fantasy into a program to make the child fly an airplane across the country, for example, isn't the point. That's the fulfillment of the parent's own dreams. That's different. Having a fantasy - which the child will either seek to fulfill or rebel against furiously - at least gives a child some expectation to meet or reject.”

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parents' imaginative hopes for their children shape expectations, motivating growth or rebellion, but should not become the parents' own unfulfilled ambitions.

**In simple terms:** Parents' fantasies guide children, but shouldn't be parents' dreams.

Key Takeaway

Encourage child’s own dreams, not yours.

Themes

parenting expectations imagination growth rebellion

Mood

thoughtful reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- educational goals
- personal development
- family dynamics

Key Concepts

psychology developmental theory self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you support a child's dreams without projecting your own?
- What expectations foster healthy growth?

A Different Perspective

May limit child's autonomy and create pressure to meet unrealistic expectations.

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> [Fashion is not about buying a second skin. Fashion is about having a fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/fashion-is-not-about-buying-a-second-skin-fashion-is-about-having-a/)

[Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/)

> [Having a fantasy come true doesn't always mean it will be permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/having-a-fantasy-come-true-doesn-t-always-mean-it-will-be-permanent/)

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## More by James Hillman

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