Lessons for Parker

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
Momma K with Santa


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  
pay a price that can be divided evenly among the employees.

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Thirty5.  Romans 8:31  
If God is for us, who can ever be against us. 

Thirty6.  Learn to tie a tie 

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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 
your bookshelf should never contain your favorite books.  Pass on the joy.

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Forty.  Be picky when it comes to boys
Forty1.  Be heard but don’t be loud 
speak with confidence and competence. 

Forty2.  Finders aren’t keepers  
lose something you love to find out why 

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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

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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.

Forty8.  Sit in the front of your class 
And introduce yourself to the teacher 

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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.

 Fifty9.  Be part of a team

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Sixty.  Always participate  
Dancing, karaoke, swimming, and the wave are not spectator sports.
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Sixty1.  Never lower your standards or compromise your morals to attain something

Sixty2.  Piercings  
Limit 2 per ear.  Don’t make me check other areas.

Sixty3.  Save rather than borrow  
money, that is.

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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.
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Sixty9.  Take pictures of everything

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.

Seventy6.  Have at least one friend you can trust to ask you the hard questions   
be this friend for someone too.
Seventy7.  RSVP.

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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

Eighty1.  Do your homework 
but take time to play outside before you start
 
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Eighty2.  Make a list
a to-do list, a grocery list, a bucket list, just make a list.

Eighty3.  Fork, fork, knife, spoon 
work left to right, like reading a book.

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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

Ninety4.  Pass the salt and pepper together 
always together.

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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

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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? 

2 comments:

  1. Wow, Ang. Parker is so extremely lucky to have a mother like you!

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  2. Angie! 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.

    I'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

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