Children

One day, I intend to have a big old family. Lately, through much discussion with my family and with friends who have children of there own I have started thinking about things I want to do with my future kids. Some of these things, my parents did with Bry and Teri and I, others are ideas I have found.

Every year for Christmas, each child will get an ornament and a book. Reading is important and if you want your children to read you have to instill reading as a habit in them. As for the ornaments, then when they finally move out, they have a collection of ornaments to put on their first Christmas tree.

Homework should be done as soon as you get home from school, not right before bed. Then you have the rest of the afternoon/evening to play (or read!).

Culture exposure once a month. I don't care what kind of culture, just something: trips to art museums, trying ethnic food, going to a concert of some sort.

My kids will have a pet. It does teach responsibility and it allows you to be comfortable with animals. My dad did not grow up with cats and dogs and was very uncomfortable around them for the longest time. He still gets nervous around big dogs.

I want to read out loud to the kids at least one night a week before bed. Mom did this with us as often as she could and I always loved it. It was calming. Also, I read a lot of great classics that I never had to read for school.
My children will read the following regaurdless of whether it's required or not for school): To Kill a Mockingbird, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, A Wrinkle In Time, Great Expectations, The Iliad and The Odyssey, Johnny Tremain, A Midsummer Night's Dream,Charlotte's Web, and whatever else I choose!

Volunteering. This is something I wish I do more currently. Its a work in progress. But I believe in giving back to the community.

I believe in demonstrating the importance of voting. When I go to vote, I will take my children with me, even if that means pulling them from school for a few hours.

I also believe in Mom dates. My mother and I make it a point to spend some time just the two of us whenever I'm home. Its nice to have the time together even if all we do is run errands for an hour.

I intend to teach my kids to play chess. Maybe once a month family game nights?

Once they are teenagers, they will be allowed one glass of wine or one beer at holiday celebrations. My parents did this with us and I think it gave me and Teri a healthy attitude towards alcohol. I wish Bry had learned this, too!

My parents never made us say "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Sir" but it's a habit I picked up from living in the south and it's one I like. I will teach my children to treat people with this little bit of respect. Its definitely not a New England thing... people get so shocked (and yet pleased) when you speak like that around them.

I will teach my kids how to bake and cook a little.

They will not get their Drivers License until they can check the fluids in a car, add more if needed, jump a car, and change a tire. This has served me well and I'm glad my parents taught me. One year, I was the only girl in the sorority house who knew how to use jumper cables.

I know life with kids is messy and uncoordinated and you have to go with the flow, so some of these things might not happen. But they are goals to work towards- things I intend to at least try to do with my kids.