<p>missypie and MOWC-- I also introduced my son to travel. It took. Solo packpacking throught Cambodia and Malayasia last summer didn’t cause him to blink. </p>
<p>Airplane snafu’s and delays don’t cause a meltdown. And, he does not think of “foreign” as “strange.” The first job is in Taipei.</p>
<p>My husband taught our kids to love bicycling. </p>
<p>Somehow we taught the kids to be careful with money without being stingy.</p>
<p>And I taught my daughter to swear like a sailor.</p>
<p>Ha! I like your style DMD.</p>
<p>I too gave D her colorful vocabulary.
I taught her to travel. (never stay near train stations)
I taught her to mistrust authority. (especially if they wear robes and/or funny hats)
I taught her that the arts are to be taken seriously,( especially comedy)
oh… and too much candy and network television will KILL YOU</p>
<p>I think the thing “we” (my wife gets most of the credit) did right was eat as a family when our D and S were growing up. I’m betting that many of you did this as well. Sometimes we didn’t eat until late (7:30 pm or so) but we always ate together and I think it paid huge dividends.</p>
<p>We’ve been told by quite a few people that our boys have great manners and are interesting to talk to. Who woulda thunk…this from boys that never did more than grunt for several years. I tried to teach them to change their shirt before dinner so they don’t smell like a gym and take their hats off when they eat or go into a restaurant…not sure that works all the time. We did always eat “together” and “sitting down” with the TV off. Two out of three are “good” with the toilet seat, only one will be a challenge to any future wife. I do remember poking them to stand up when “elders” came into the room and to shake hands or clap them (men only) on the back (not the butt - remember they are boys) and the difference between a salad fork, a seafood fork and a dinner fork, but I always figured they weren’t listening. My husband did profusely “thank me” when number #1 graduated (from college not the local jail) so I guess we instilled the need for higher education and I guess we got that into their craniums at some point. Two of them like animals…one says no animals…only fish. I guess they are turning out OK so for being the only female in the house I do pat myself on the back.</p>
<p>I am with DrGoogle, my kids are idealistic and root for the underdogs in life. They are very accepting of people and cultures that are different from theirs. I think that is what I am most proud of as a parent. They are not perfect, but I have seen and teachers have told me they intervene when someone is getting bullied, even if that person is not considered “cool.”
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<p>Letting her know that telling the truth always results in better consequences than lying and getting caught.</p>
<p>Hooked on Phonics will give you a great foundation for reading.</p>
<p>You are what you eat, and what you eat while you are young will affect your health later.</p>
<p>Attended every activity participated in,
no matter how boring I thought it was. </p>
<p>Even when she knew she was “grown” (till this day) let her lay on my shoulder to fall asleep as I stroke her forehead and sing to her.</p>
<p>Oh…and introduce her to Disco music! :)</p>
<p>Both are healthy eaters.</p>
<p>Both know that most everything in moderation works best.</p>
<p>Both value loving relationships with extended family.</p>
<p>Both are loyal friends.</p>
<p>Music is a big part of both their lives and both enjoy a WIDE variety.</p>
<p>Both will still snuggle in our bed to watch a movie and sleep on our floor.</p>
<p>Like so many others here, we are blessed!</p>
<p>heathly lifestyle and priorities</p>
<p>I don’t know if I can make the connection between how well my kids have turned out (reported thankfully and with crossed fingers), and with what I’ve done right as a parent. They’re excellent money managers, which must have come from their dad; and though I’m fairly focused and organized, they are much more so.</p>
<p>That said, I’d like to think that they’re tolerant of other philosophies, religions, backgrounds, etc., because I modeled that for them. But they’re smart kids and could probably have figured that out for themselves. The only thing I KNOW I did right was in reading to them by the hour, and always whenever they asked for a book. However, there’s no denying that I’m happiest sitting down with a book, so I was actually just doing what I really wanted to do. ;)</p>
<p>People comment on how polite my children are (they should only have a glass to the wall of my house, LOL!) and what excellent vocabularies they have. H and I never spoke to any of them like babies, we always watch Jeopardy with them and we discourage the use of swear words.</p>
<p>All of them (except for our dyslexic son) are voracious readers. All of them would rather watch History, Science or Discovery channel than most other stuff. They don’t get that from me - I adore Housewives of NJ, Mob Wives and true crime shows.</p>
<p>The best thing about my kids is that they are genuinely nice people. They have never bullied anyone and often stand up for underdogs (especially my daughter). </p>
<p>I just wish they actually thought HW was mandatory rather than aspirational.</p>
<p>Just joining this thread, because with D2 home less than a week, I was feeling like a bad momma even though I was excited to have her home.
Just dropped her off at a friends’ & the friends mom was commenting on how much she looked forward to visiting w her. Because * she is so easy going* 
I guess it is better that she lets her hair down when she is home, but is able to be more social when she is out and about, that just shows that she at least feels home is a safe place to be grumpy.
;)</p>
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</p>
<p>Yeah, I get comments from adults on how nice and sweet my kids are…really???</p>
<p>I trusted them to learn what they needed to learn, go where they needed to go, and do what they needed to do.</p>
<p>And I meant it.</p>
<p>My kids are not afraid to travel and go to new places (even alone).</p>
<p>My kids are not afraid to travel and go to new places (even alone).
oh well I guess I can say that too. 
My youngest went to NY/DC with her 6th grade class in 2002, to rural Ghana as a high school senior & to Tamil Nadu by herself when she was 18- of course I do not know where she got this gene from. I don’t like flying, we have * never* flown anywhere as a family- I like to sleep in my own bed!</p>