Parents often have big dreams for who their children will become. They may be rooted in what we did or wish we had done. But our kids have a way of showing us who they want to be - whether it aligns with our dreams or not. We need to support them as they develop their sense of autonomy, but there is no map telling us how to get from point A (our vision for them) to point B (their vision). Today, we’ll glimpse a mother-daughter relationship and learn how they have struck a balance to build autonomy. To help with the conversation, we have mother-daughter pair Teresa George and [Bella Sullivan. BIOS: Teresa George is a two-time graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, with her undergrad in Special Education in 2003 and her Masters in Education in 2008. She resides in Midland with her three girls, Bella (18), Addi (15), and Gigi (10), and is very active with the girl’s activities, which include dance, softball, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. Teresa is the Director of Career Services at Saginaw Valley State University, where she has worked for the past four years. She’s active in the community as a member of the Midland Noon Rotary Club and Zonta, a Leadership Midland Class of 2021, PTO President of St. Brigid’s Catholic School, and Vice President of the Midland High School Sports Booster Club. Bella Sullivan- A senior at Midland High School who serves as the Student Council President, yearbook staff, Midland County Youth Leadership graduate and past steering team member, and a member of the National Honor Society. I’m also a student-athlete, a member of the Varsity Basketball and Softball team, and the volleyball manager. I am very passionate about growing and sharing my leadership style. I will be attending Saginaw Valley State University in the Fall.
