What do You Want for Your Kids?
I have written about what is important to parents many times and I know that for some readers, it is not enough to read me saying that for hundreds of parents going through the parenting workshops, happiness and all forms of happiness are more important than what they spend most of their energy on (academic success).
Do not get me wrong. I do not know any parents who care about their kids that would say, "I want my kids to be failures at school". We all want our kids to be academically successful. After all, whether we like it or not, we think their level of success says something about us…
Unfortunately, many parents think academic success is the entry ticket to "real life", but although I believe it is very important, I think it cannot stand by itself and we need a balance between academic success and happiness.
Luckily, they are not in a conflict at all and can go hand in hand. After over 25 years of working with gifted children and kids with learning difficulties (which is not contradiction, because kids with learning difficulties can be gifted and talented), I can tell you that academically smart kids can be very happy. Better yet, happy kids do a lot better academically.
In parenting workshops, I tell people to imagine their kids were princes and princesses and that I am a fairy with a magic wand who comes to bless their kids with all the goodness of life. I love to play fairy, because I believe in magic.
So here I am, playing fairy with you too and I am giving you a wish, one wish that you can give your kids. Please remember, it is only one wish. When you die, your kids will say, "This is my dad's or my mom's blessing for me". To help you choose, I wrote a story called "The 10 Mothers" and I do apologize to all fathers, it is as true to fathers than to mothers.
10 mothers sat in a coffee shop and talked about all the things they wanted for their kids.
The first mother said, "I wish I could give my kids lots of money so they could have everything they want and be financially free".
The second mother said, "I wish I could give my kids knowledge to help them succeed in life. Learning is the way to growth and knowledge is the key to success."
The third mother said, "I wish I could give my kids wonderful friends to keep them company for the rest of their lives".
The fourth mother said, "I wish I could give my kids strength to overcome all the difficulties in life".
The fifth mother said, "I wish I could give my kids compassion and kindness towards themselves and towards others, for compassion and kindness bring all people together and make us one".
The sixth mother said, "I wish I could give my kids acceptance to help them flow with the stream of life and lead them to spirituality".
The seventh mother said, "I wish that I could give my kids gratitude for all that the universe has to offer them, for gratitude is the vibration of all good things in life".
The eighth mother said, "I wish I could give my kids perfect health so they can experience the world with all their senses".
The ninth mother said, "I wish I could give my kids love. Love is everything and love is the answer to all".
The tenth mother said, "I want to give my kids happiness that can lead them to financial freedom, knowledge, friendship, strength, compassion and kindness. A happy, positive mindset will lead them to acceptance, gratitude, health and love, for happiness is the ultimate state of bliss and happy thoughts are the way to get there".
If you could choose only one thing to give your kids, what would that be?
Many parents say it is hard to choose only just one this, because they are all important and some of them lead to others. I agree!
In the comment box below, please share your reasons for your choice and if there is anything else you would like to give your kids that is not on this list.
The 2009 Weblog Awards voting is now open. Please vote for Family Matters as the Best Parenting Blog by clicking the banner below and then clicking the 
next to my nomination comment to give me your vote. Every vote counts, so please vote and ask all your friends too!
Wishing all fairies happy parenting,
Ronit
Pingback: Richard Kawane
Pingback: Daniel Arlt
Pingback: Jack Gilbert