what do you want for your kids???

Have you ever sat down and thought deeply about what you want for your kids? Do you want them to be successful?... Popular... Beautiful...Rich...Funny...Loved...Happy? Maybe a combination of all of the above?

For me, I think it comes down to this; I don't care if my kids turn out to be the most successful people on the planet, the richest, the most beautiful, the most adored, most famous, or even the funniest. What I do pray is that my children will grow to be deeply connected to their faith in God, and in doing that, that they will become the happiest most well rounded people they are capable of being.

Inside the walls of your home what do you supply your kids?
What is there to inspire them?
Teach them?
Comfort them?
When they are out of your house and in their own, what will they remember most about growing up?

I often wonder what my kids will remember.
Will they remember the moments we were cuddled in bed together?
The stories that we've read?
The meals that were cooked?
The smell...
the laughter...
the goofy times...
dancing in the kitchen...
eating outside on a summer day?

What is it that will stick in their minds?
Will it be the times I've lost my patience? Or will it be the times I read just one more story, or laid beside them in their beds when they were scared?

As I think of all of these things, I also think about what I want to be around them as they grow... I've decided that for me, these are the important things...

Books... lots and lots of books. (funny ones, inspirational ones, biblical ones, historical ones, vintage ones, modern ones, classic ones, all kinds)

Art... Paper, Chalkboards, easels, paint, crayons, and pencils, charcoal, and canvas... buttons, pom poms, pipe cleaners, and every sort of thing to make them feel creative.

Good Food... Healthy foods, Organic foods, Local foods, Sustainable, We feel good about eating this foods!

Comfort... Coziness, Softness, familiarity, and a sense of belonging. The world can be so harsh, home is where one should be able to be totally at peace!

Faith... I want to be the kind of parents/family that show them how to love the lord. I want to be an example. I want to teach them how to pray, to praise, and how to worship Jesus.

Love... Hugs, kisses, cuddles, and encouragement.

Nature... Walks, exploration, bugs, butterflies, plants, animals, and mother earth. Learning to love God's green earth. Days at the beach, hikes in the mountains, swims in the lake, boating trips, camping trips, planting a garden. Finding a love of getting their hands in the dirt!

Family... Knowing that they ALWAYS have people that have their backs. A never ending, unconditional, love, from people that are their support. I want them to have intimate relationships with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I want them to hear about the great people that are loving them from heaven now. I want them to know their roots, and have pride in their history.


Laughter & Forgiveness... I always want to be able to be able to say that I am sorry to my kids, I want them to know there is nothing they could ever do that I could not forgive. I want their to be many more memories of laughter and of fun than anything else.


Have you ever thought about these things as you were raising your kids? What have you decided are the "important" things to you and your family? What do you want your kids to remember when they look back at their childhood?

It's funny. Before I was a parent, I think I automatically assumed that most of these things happened somehow by some sort of osmosis... I quickly found out they do not. Parenting is hard work. Daily sacrifice. Joy, frustration, and happiness, and every other feeling and emotion in between. But, there is no greater joy on earth. I pray as my kids look back at their childhoods, that they don't remember when I lost my patience, or was quick to anger, but would remember and know that they are and will always be truly loved.