Lowering Expectations

Not too long ago, I was driving through the windy roads of backwoods Sebastopol and nearby Occidental. Naturally, I was driving... shall we say, "with gusto" or "enthusiasm" because, doggonit; is there another way to do it?

I was eventually told by someone that I shouldn't drive so enthusiastically because kids (specifically, my kids) will emulate that behavior and they may not have the same skillset for outstanding Formula One-caliber racecar driving techniques as I obviously have. In other words, don't drive fast (read: excellently) because the kids might not be able to.

To me that sounds like lowering expectations for my children.

It sound like "don't be so good at basketball in front of the kids because they might hurt themselves when they try to do the same things you do."
or
"Don't be a doctor because your kids might not be able to cut it in med school."
or
"Don't show so much interest in the culinary arts because if the kids play in the kitchen, they might get burned."

I would rather raise the kids' expectations and aspirations and help them achieve those goals.