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lelekay
member
Goals for raising my son
lelekay
member
The New Year always gets me thinking about my life, where it is, where it's going, and where I'd like it to go. This year, my introspection is mainly focused on motherhood and my son. While he napped in my arms this morning, I created this list, and I thought I'd share it with all of you.
My "resolution" this year (if you want to call it that....I don't typically make true New Year's resolutions, Id rather simply reflect on how I can foster habits that are aligned with my life goals) is to try to stop worrying so much and feeling guilty about any aspect of my "imperfect" (because after all, aren't we all?) mothering skills that don't pertain to any of these goals. If I'm worrying excessively about something (except for obvious major health and safety things) that doesn't directly relate to a goal (things I have deemed truly important to me), I'm going to do my best to let it go.
Note: I am well aware that one or two of these may be lofty, particularly the ones related to eating and culture, but nonetheless, they are, after careful thought, what I'd like to try my best to foster in him. I'm also aware that many of these are things that probably won't show themselves until adulthood, and will always be a work in progress. 
Goals for raising my son:
1. He will respect women, elders, and himself enough to behave like a gentleman.
2. He will display appropriate manners at the table, as a guest in someone?s home, in social situations, and when interacting with both children and adults.
3. He will love learning and reading for pleasure and information.
4. He will appreciate culture and develop a desire to travel, visit museums, zoos, and theatre.
5. He will be a varied eater. It is okay to dislike certain foods as long as there are plenty of nutritious foods that are liked, and will be willing to try new foods occasionally.
6. He will be his own person, an independent thinker who makes his own decisions based on careful thought of the results.
7. He will understandand respect the value of money.
1. He will possess a sense of self-responsibility, the knowledge that he alone is responsible for his actions and choices.
8. He will be at ease in new situations and with new people.
9. He will be passionate about something?.anything!
10. He will love freely, affectionately, and without cause for shame or embarrassment.
11. Every moment of every day he will know how loved he is.
12. He will laugh every day of his life.
What do you think? Suggestions for additions or edits?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Goals for raising my son
I love the idea
I think the best way to achieve them is being a person you want H to exemplify, not necessarily giving "him" goals to measure up to, it's kinda a lot of pressure 
.
Oh, and you might want to end it with something about how if he achieves none of these, you'll love him anyway
edited: my spelling is poo
Cerclage placed @ 21w6d due to CI (IC)
Yeah, they definitely are goals more for me than him, even though they're worded that way.
Excellent point!
Cerclage placed @ 21w6d due to CI (IC)
Love it! And
to all of this:
I love it!
I would say, though, that a couple of those are more personality traits, so I wouldn't be too upset if they don't all come true.
You're absolutely right....I'm fairly certain that they, in fact, WON'T all come true, at least not exactly as I've laid them out here. For a few of them, it's more that I'm planning to expose him to experiences that might foster certain appreciations. I do know that that can backfire, though! :P
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
That's so funny--my MIL was just telling me that she created a list of values she wanted to instill in DH when he was a baby. It sounds a lot like what you did. Then, she created a how-to plan for each one.
I think it worked fabulously.
{planning bio} {married bio} {baby blog}