The best thing that we could want for our children is for them to grow up to be loving individuals who have personal and moral integrity. More than a high paying job, good looks or personal success, we want our kids to be people of integrity who are confident, competent and consistent with their values. The world needs people who
... and much more.
The bottom
line is we need to raise our kids to have good character, to
be virtuous. All this boils down to good habits. They don't happen
overnight. They may take years to form, but we set down the building
blocks from the time they are small – by our words, by our demands
and most of all by our own example. The strength of their character
will greatly depend on the foundation we have laid. When I recently attended
a volleyball game for my son, I saw a poster on the wall that summed this up
quite well. The poem is written by Frank Outlaw and says:
When we keep these four main ingredients in mind and look for ways to solidify them, we are doing an enormous good for our children's futures. Why? Because focussing on prestigious careers, financial success, great education etc. etc. is not enough. Even with all the material things working out, our kids will need the wherewithall to make it in their marriage, to think of others other than themselves and to know how to deal with tough times in a sporting way. When you focus on character as your primary mission, all the rest will take care of itself. No matter what the future holds, our kids will have the backbone to take on the adventure.