"I think it's the great thing about having kids. They have interests that you might not have, and it opens your horizons"

Raising children often brings unexpected depth and novelty to daily life, revealing worlds that may otherwise have remained hidden. When Robert Martin observes that having kids exposes parents to interests beyond their own, he highlights the transformative potential of parenthood. Children are naturally curious, drawn to activities and subjects based on unique personalities and the unpredictable influences around them. As they discover passions, whether it's a strange new sports craze, a style of music unfamiliar, a science project, or a love of painting, they invite parents into those interests.

For adults, routines and preferences can quickly ossify as life rolls on. Without deliberate effort, it can be easy to fall into well-worn ruts, sticking with familiar hobbies, reading similar books, or engaging with the same circles of friends. Parent-child relationships disrupt this inertia. When a child brings home a fascination with dinosaurs, a passion for skateboarding, or a penchant for anime, the parent is presented not only with the opportunity, but often the necessity, to step out of their comfort zone. This doesn't just educate parents about subjects they may never have explored, but also gives them a fresh perspective, from the ground level, through a child's eyes.

Beyond passive exposure, participating in a child's interests can strengthen bonds. Going to dance recitals, attending robotics competitions, or reading comics together becomes a shared journey. It requires patience, humility, and an openness to learning, which are qualities that benefit adults far beyond parental roles. Moreover, parents often rediscover their own capacity for wonder, play, and pure enjoyment, reminding them of their own childhoods or opening entirely new avenues of excitement and fulfillment.

Through these experiences, parents' horizons broaden, not only in terms of knowledge but in empathy and perspective. The simple act of engaging with a child's passion offers a richer, more varied life and underlines the profound influence children have on shaping the adults around them.