<p>For the first time in my life I’m explicitly aware of the magnitude of sacrifices and commitments made by my parents for my sake. </p>
<p>They claim to want nothing more than to see me happy, but that’s not very fair is it? I think it’s reasonable for me to see to it that my mother and father are taken care of financially. Reciprocated unconditional love also couldn’t hurt. </p>
<p>Enough mushy stuff from my end - What do expect from your child(ren)?</p>
<p>…and don’t say ‘nothing’.</p>
<p>Hmmm…you ask a great question. For me, “expectations” are divided into two groups: What I expect from son now and What I hope/expect later.</p>
<p>Now: Do your best with the opportunities that we are working to give you. Not, do what I would do (neccesarily), but do your best of combining your own hard work with the opportunities we provide to creat the right future for you.</p>
<p>Later: Give your own children the best balance of love, opportunities and nurture that you and your spouse can manage.</p>
<p>To my children: You are old enough to understand what we’ve sacrificed to give you these incredible opportunities, so please do your best. Please say “thank you.” Occasionally. Please “pay it forward” to your own children.</p>
<p>Momof3sons took the words right out of my mouth.</p>
<p>^+2. 10 char.</p>
<p>I’ve hoped my kids would:
Take advantage of their college education by pursuing academics and productive ECs that interest them, and by doing their best (doesn’t mean making straight As);</p>
<p>Pay it forward by helping other people (including any of their future kids) have better lives;</p>
<p>Verbalize and otherwise show their appreciation to H and me for our help;</p>
<p>Show the respect, kindness, love, and patience with me and H in our old age that we’ve demonstrated to our kids in their youth.</p>
<p>My great great grandfather sent all of his ten children to college in the 1840s and 1850s, including his daughters. At the time, he told them they had to in turn send their kids to college. And so on down. That makes my children the fifth generation college-educated. My children have been told explicitly that they are to make sure their children (future) also graduate debt free. </p>
<p>What else do I expect from my children? The pleasure of their company from time to time. That they will accept my phone calls and tell me about their lives. That they’ll let me visit.</p>
<p>And that, if my husband or I end up destitute in the future–that they will share what they have with us.</p>
<p>I always say that I hope my children will be happy, productive members of society no matter what they do. </p>
<p>The best compliment a parent can get is an unsolicited compliment from someone else about their child’s behavior.</p>
<p>Another wonderful compliment to a parent is seeing your own kids’ friends in public–school or whatever–and having them look you in the eye and say hello, let alone feel welcome enough to grab a snack out of your refrigerator when they visit.</p>
<p>“Another wonderful compliment to a parent is seeing your own kids’ friends in public–school or whatever–and having them look you in the eye and say hello, let alone feel welcome enough to grab a snack out of your refrigerator when they visit.”</p>
<p>D’s friends and not friends do that which totally ticks off Miss Ugh How Embarrassing to Have Parents. The ex still calls to talk to us and not her, heehee. </p>
<p>As for what we want from her in return its love.</p>
<p>I realize right now that I’ve never even thought of what I “expect” from my daughter. </p>
<p>When I was growing up, I never gave any thought to having children and assumed that I’d never have any. In fact, I always assumed that having children would be a very unrewarding undertaking overall. But then the minute my daughter was born, I fell completely in love with her. I’ve wanted everything to be perfect for her from day one–I guess I’ve never viewed anything I/we did for her as a sacrifice, although of course there have been sacrifices. This doesn’t mean that we have given her anything and everything she wants–we can afford to give her much more than we have done, but we do not as a matter of principle (except for her education, of course. We’ve spared nothing in that department).</p>
<p>I don’t ever expect anything material in return, but I would be heartbroken if our relationship were ever strained or distant. Fortunately, we are very close. Actually, I did just think of something–I want a couple of very cute and smart grandchildren some day and I want them to live close enough to us so that we can spoil them rotten!</p>
<p>Momof3sons’s post #3 really says it all. We tell our kids we want them to be happy and successful (as a balanced pair).</p>
<p>I expect courtesy, respect and effort.</p>
<p>I hope for love, companionship and success.</p>
<p>What do I expect?----that she be a good person.</p>
<p>I expect that they will be polite, interested in our life, and respectful. I expect that they will enjoy our company from time to time. I expect that they will recognize all we have done for them (well, maybe not all) and appreciate it. </p>
<p>I hope for grandchildren who live relatively nearby. I hope for free access to the grandchildren. I hope they are satisfied with their chosen professions. I hope they take advantage of their intelligence, athletic ability, and good looks.</p>
<p>Lots of time with my future grandchildren.</p>
<p>That you do the best you can for yours.</p>