Austin, Texas. My belief is that part of the reason people do not want to have kids is the built-in expectation that they are expensive. Kids are expensive if they are placed into organized sports, various lessons, and tutoring. This creates unrealistic expectations for parents and pushes them into deciding to have “only one or two” children because, admittedly, it is quite time-consuming as well as costly to fill a child’s schedule with everything from soccer games to math tutoring to chess lessons. Do we need to do this? I argue we do not. I did not overschedule with my five children.

We Do Not Need to Provide Kids With Multiple Activities

Elon wasn’t taken from lessons to tutoring to sports teams as a child. This we can gather from what he has said about growing up and from Walter Isaacson’s and Lynne Vance’s biographies, as well as Maye Musk’s book, “A Woman with a Plan.” In fact, it appears he had a lot of self-directed time as a child and he chose to use it both wisely and creatively. His mother trusted him. This is a key, I think. It is good advice for parents to trust their kids. Sure, kids can be clever, and certainly Elon Musk was one of the most clever kids, and his mother believed in him. 

These Early Years Of Elon Musk’s Life May Have Helped Shaped Him Into The Man He Is Today

Elon Musk Was Not an Overscheduled Child, He Had Lots of Self-Directed Time

Elon Musk’s upbringing was far from today’s typical overscheduled child who is shuttled from one activity to another. Instead, his childhood was marked by adventure and self-discovery. This environment allowed him to cultivate his curiosity and imagination, laying the foundation for his future. Kids need this.

So how, then, did Elon Musk thrive without tutoring and lessons?

1. A supportive family: Elon’s mother, Maye Musk, played a crucial role in nurturing his curiosity and encouraging his interests. Despite the challenges she faced, she provided a loving and supportive environment for Elon and his siblings.

2. Early exposure to technology: Elon’s father is well known to have been (and still is) an abusive, bad person. He was also an engineer, and he introduced Elon to computers at a young age. This early exposure to technology may have sparked Elon’s passion for programming and laid some of the groundwork for his future endeavors. Today, all kids are exposed to technology. When Elon was growing up, it was rare to be exposed. He loved it so much that he wrote a video game called Blastar. 

3. Self-directed learning: Elon was a voracious reader and self-taught learner. He would spend hours devouring books on various subjects, from science fiction to the entire encyclopedia. This self-directed learning style allowed him to develop a broad knowledge base and a unique perspective on the world.

4. Resilience and determination: Elon’s childhood was not without its challenges. He faced bullying and adversity. He has Asperger’s Syndrome.  But these experiences only served to strengthen his resolve. Elon’s resilience and determination helped him overcome obstacles and pursue his dreams. Remember, kids can learn their own way and Elon did just that! Many kids do not conform to traditional school learning methods. Many kids have a form of Autism. Two of my own kids have been diagnosed with mild Autism, and they are doing very well but regular classroom programming does not and never has worked well for them. 

5. A sense of adventure: Elon’s childhood in South Africa was filled with adventure and exploration. He would often venture into the wilderness, exploring caves and learning about the natural world. This sense of adventure and curiosity would later fuel his passion for space exploration and his desire to push the boundaries of human achievement.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s childhood experiences played a  role in shaping him into the visionary entrepreneur he is today but they were not based on a “formula,” and they did not cost a lot of money. 

By examining his early years, we can better understand the factors that contributed to his success and learn valuable lessons about the importance of curiosity, resilience, and self-directed learning. 

Elon Musk’s story serves as a powerful reminder to people thinking of becoming new parents, that unconventional paths can often lead to extraordinary outcomes. 

Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to Gail Alfar. All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.

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