<p>I know we tend to beat ourselves up as parents when our kids come up short in some areas. But I’m sure we all did something right. </p>
<p>There are things about my kids for which I deserve neither credit nor blame. For example, one of my kids possesses excellent organizational skills. But another is one of the most disorganized on the planet. </p>
<p>Here is what H and I must be able to take credit for, because they are traits that all three kids share:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Each has a terrific vocabularly. The one who lives to read, the one who hates to read, the one in the middle. So it must be us, right?</p></li>
<li><p>Each of my kids is very kind. Believe me, each has his/her faults, but each is kind.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>How about you? What can you rightfully take credit for?</p>
<p>My H does all the shopping and cooking in our house, and is something of a health nut. Years ago the kids banded together to get him to promise to stop talking about nutrition at the dinner table. However, they have internalized his food preferences. I drove my college-age son to the grocery store the other day when he moved into his summer sublet: he bought lentils, brown basmati rice, plantains, tofu, calcium-fortified orange juice, yogurt, Swiss chard, steel-cut oats, carrots, and organic apples. “How about a frozen pizza, or some Ramen noodles?” I suggested, remembering my own student days. S looked at me quizzically. “You know, I mean, for snacks,” I floundered.</p>
<p>They wear seat belts and bike helmets, they don’t eat undercooked hamburgers, they have a deep suspicion of things not approved by the FDA (e.g., herbal supplements), and they talk to a pharmacist before taking two medications together.</p>
<p>They suffered through years of music lessons, and enjoyed long, long, long family road trips in a van complete with camping in small tent. They drank “earth juice” (water) instead of juice or soda, made bread with the family every week, and experience frugal living in its finest. They appreciate their opportunities, their family, each other, and value people over things.</p>
<p>My H & I have not been overly strict with our two boys. Curfew has been loose and they have not abused it. The older one especially looks after his friends and helps them out by giving them rides or talking to them if they have “girlfriend” issues.</p>
<p>They are very polite to other kids & their parents and to their teachers.</p>
<p>They have strong work ethics and have common sense.</p>
<p>They are both organized with their schoolwork and get great grades. They are involved in many EC’s…quite a few charities as well and have volunteered many times to feed the homeless & bring meals to those who cannot leave their homes.</p>
<p>I saved the best for last…<em>they don’t shut their mom up when she wants to sing!</em></p>
<p>I’m always surprised if someone tells me that “you must have done something right because your daughters…fill in the blank” because it feels like a total random accident that they turned out so great. My husband was an awesome person, and they inherieted a great deal of his genes. I can and will take credit for creating two avid readers… I made a choice to have no cable, dish etc at the house. So TV viewing was limited, books were plentiful and encouraged. Both love love to read and its served them well. I’m still surprised tho that it worked… could still be dumb luck!</p>
<p>I think I will take a pass. After going to see D get her Masters of Music this weekend, my shoulders are sore from repetitive reaching and patting on my own back.
At the same time, I’m with sistersunnie—she was pretty much born that way.</p>
<p>My daughter made me feel good today when she thanked me for teaching her how to be moral, and the difference between right and wrong. You could have blow me away as this child doesn’t usually hand out compliments that easily.</p>
<p>Seem her company has fired several people for charging items, trips, hotels on the company credit card, and are now cracking down. While my daughter agonizes over every dime she spends, another of her coworkers in under an audit. </p>
<p>I am proud that it would never cross my daughter’s mind to charge something not work related to the company credit card.</p>
<p>My kids are both very honest, non-judgemental and unassuming. They are very open-minded, accepting of others and are loyal to their friends, sometimes to a fault.</p>
<p>Mine also are very close and very good buddies, despite the 4 year age difference. They both can cook, do laundry, and one even writes thank-you notes without being reminded!! Neither can sew on a button though…</p>
<p>Our rules of sports were: “Listen to the coach, be a good teammate, finish what you started and be a good winner OR loser” But those rules work for life also!</p>
<p>Our family cooked together while the kids were growing up. For Thanksgiving every family member would make their favorite dish. We would rave about one daughter’s cranberry dish or son’s homemade bread. When they visit from out of town, they now ask “What would you like for dinner tonight?” I just love being asked that question! What yummy unexpected meals too!
For my youngest daughter’s graduation present her sister asked what would she like as a gift. You would not believe the dozen salted carmel cupcakes that came out of the kitchen.
They also cook for high school and college friends.</p>