This is a compilation of lessons that I hope to pass on to our daughter. I find it is only appropriate to list them before she's born so she can never claim I'm making up rules as we go along or changing them in the middle of the game. Some of the lessons are stolen, some are original, some are lessons I was taught, some are lessons I wish I'd learned an easier way.
So, here's to parenting via the blogosphere.
In no particular order...
One. Sing in church
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Two. Watch your mouth
poor language is unbecoming of a lady
Three. Let your mom celebrate your birthday
turns out the day you were born was a big deal to her too
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Four. Smile
it’s your best feature and the only one that can be seen, heard, and felt
Five. Learn to drive a manual transmission
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Six. The back 4 rows of the movie theater are not an option
like staying out after midnight, nothing good happens
Seven. Learn how to change a tire and change your oil
ask your dad, he’s a pro!
Eight. Don’t change your order because of your company
Get the burger. Eventually he’ll find out you eat more than salad anyway.
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Nine. Find a mentor then pass on the favor
Ten. Pray
if you ignore everything else that anyone ever tries to teach you or encourages you to do, don’t ignore this one
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Eleven. Accept compliments with gratitude and grace
Twelve. Take pride in your assists but remember to shoot
you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
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Thirteen. Audition for the school play or choir
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Fourteen. Shop at the Farmer’s Market
Fifteen. Know how to light a pilot light
maintenance men and landlords can be creepy
Sixteen. Ma’am or Sir. No exceptions.
Seventeen. Drink good beer
if it’s in a can or has light in the name, chances are you’re drinking it for the wrong reason
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Eighteen. On time is 10 minutes early
unless you’re attending a party
Nineteen. Lefty loosey righty tighty
Twenty. Write Thank You notes
and be prompt
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Twenty1. Never use your phone or make it visible at dinner tables, meetings, or during a conversation
appreciate and respect your company
Twenty2. Ask your grandma to teach you to sew
maybe she can teach your mom too
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Twenty3. Flip over a tails up penny but leave it on the ground
you just made a stranger’s day
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Twenty4. Guitar and/or piano
because your mom wants to sing along
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Twenty5. Learn to say no
sometimes you have to give up something you love for something you love even more
Twenty6. Never go to bed angry
unless you’re angry with a boy and it’s after 10:00 on a school night. Hang up and go to bed.
Twenty7. Courage and Loyalty are virtues the world seems to have forgotten
take pride in remembering them
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Twenty8. Jump on the bed
but only at hotels
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Twenty9. Your tongue can be a very dangerous weapon think before you speak and never use words with harmful intent
Thirty. Take part in tradition
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Thirty1. The L Word
use with caution and high regard.
Thirty2. Your performance is always directly related to the time you spent preparing
luck is when preparation meets opportunity
Thirty3. Call your mom – don’t text
she deserves to hear your voice
Thirty4. Always stop at a lemonade stand
Thirty5. Romans 8:31
If God is for us, who can ever be against us.
Thirty7. Keep your room clean
don’t just shove it under the bed or in the closet
Thirty8. Include the new kid
Thirty9. Read a good book then gift it to a friend
Forty. Be picky when it comes to boys
Forty1. Be heard but don’t be loud
speak with confidence and competence.
speak with confidence and competence.
Forty2. Finders aren’t keepers
Forty3. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body – use it
let your heart break for those in need and shower those around you with love
let your heart break for those in need and shower those around you with love
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Forty4. Buy the meal
every once in awhile step up and treat your friends.
Forty5. Watch romantic comedies but don’t let them set your expectations
love isn’t that pretty all the time
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Forty6. Compliment other women
I love your shirt. Your haircut is adorable. You look beautiful today.
Forty7. Wake up early at least one day a week
it’s beautiful before the hustle and bustle.
Forty9. Don’t do it
I pray that I’ll have the courage to talk to you about this with honesty and transparency someday. Until then, just don’t.
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Fifty. Same sex roommates only
Fifty1. Always travel with enough cash to pay for a ticket or cab ride home
Fifty2. Don’t skimp on the important stuff
toilet paper, peanut butter, shoes, and sheets - go big or go home
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Fifty3. Shake hands and make eye contact
impressive.
Fifty4. Never fight with your hands
Fifty5. Set goals
write them down.
Fifty6. Your dad and mom are really pretty cool
Fifty7. Celebrate the small stuff
Celebrations are fun, why wait.
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Fifty8. Grammar Lesson there, their, they’re, where, were, we’re, wear, then, than, you’re, your. Learn them yesterday.
Sixty. Always participate
Dancing, karaoke, swimming, and the wave are not spectator sports.
Sixty2. Piercings
Limit 2 per ear. Don’t make me check other areas.
Sixty4. Expensive clothes are a waste of money
this is a partial truth and a sad attempt by your mom to save a dime in the future
Sixty5. You won’t always be the strongest or the fastest
You can be the toughest.
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Sixty6. Your attitude, not your appearance, makes you beautiful
Sixty7. Give
cheerfully and sacrificially
Sixty8. For one to win, another must lose
keep score or don’t play and always win with grace and lose with dignity.
Seventy. Dishes
do them, dry them, put them away. And always help the hostess with this chore even if she tells you not to.
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Seventy1. The smallest deed always means more than the biggest intention
Seventy2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
turns out people love to help you as much as you love to help them.
Seventy3. Vote.
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Seventy4. Music should stir you from the inside out
it’s emotional. Listen.
Seventy5. Focus on your strengths
Do what you’re good at doing with all you have.
Do what you’re good at doing with all you have.
Seventy6. Have at least one friend you can trust to ask you the hard questions
be this friend for someone too.
Seventy7. RSVP.
Seventy8. Tattoos that are sexy at 18 are not as sexy at 40
at least hide it
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Seventy8. Tattoos that are sexy at 18 are not as sexy at 40
at least hide it
Seventy9. I love you.
A LOT.
Eighty. Look behind you before you let a door close
hold it open for anyone else entering or exiting
hold it open for anyone else entering or exiting
Eighty1. Do your homework
but take time to play outside before you start
Eighty4. Don’t use the snooze feature
it creates poor habits.
Eighty5. When you travel, look like you know where you’re going
even if you have to fake it
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Eighty6. Say bless you when someone sneezes
Eighty7. No Fear.
2 Timothy 1:7
Eighty8. Take vacations
with friends and family, never boyfriends.
Eighty9. Keep an extra pair of hosiery in your desk drawer
no one even wears hosiery anymore but this seems like good advice just in case
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Ninety. The laundry isn’t done until it’s folded and put away
Ninety1. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t have the answer
but be willing to find it.
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Ninety2. Suck it up.
Get up, dust off, compose yourself. Sometimes life is sucky – suck it up.
Ninety3. Never return an empty dish
send meals and goodies in disposable containers so others don’t have to worry about returning a dish to you
Ninety5. Kill them with kindness
Ninety6. Own several umbrellas
place them strategically in your car, your desk drawer, your house always be prepared for the storm
Ninety7. Say thank you to a teacher who changes your life
turns out they don’t get thanked as much as you may think
turns out they don’t get thanked as much as you may think
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Ninety8. If you have the window seat, don’t close the window
enjoy the view and appreciate how organized and in order the world looks from above
Ninety9. Go to weddings
believe in true love and celebrate when a friend finds it
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1Hundred. Share
Share a milkshake, share your toys, or share your thoughts, but most importantly, share His love.
Are there any lessons that you want to make sure you teach your children? Any that you wish you could have learned an easier way?
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Wow, Ang. Parker is so extremely lucky to have a mother like you!
ReplyDeleteAngie! I love your list and Parker is so lucky to have it from the very beginning. I would have liked it for my kids, but wait, YOU were still a kid when they were little. I think the list is good for any age, really.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for you and Jason over the next few weeks as you welcome your bundle of joy into the world. God Bless you & your family!
Tina Ahern