Since M.D. was born, I have had a lot of time to think about what I envision in a life for him. I realize I only have so much control. Right now, I'm at about 100%. This will slowly taper off until I'm at 0% (or 1%..if he lets me). Bottom line, I'm realistic about my role. It's not my job to project a life onto my son. It's my job to guide and protect him as he creates his own life and his own place in this world. Too many times, I think, parents have children and feel the need to make them into something. "My daughter's going to do ballet & become a senator!" "My son is going to be captain of the football and the CEO of a Fortune 500 company!". Really? Good luck. The reality is, in most cases, projecting our ideas onto our children's future has only negative results...for us, the parents. See, if children don't want to be who we want them to be, they can either play along with OUR fantasy of their lives, and be miserable, or they can retaliate against us and be miserable. Win-Win right? Wrong.
That being said, there are a few wishes I have for my little M.D. not that he needs to become a certain person, or be good at certain activities; just the things I wish for him. Ideas and experiences I believe will help him along the way. Not a whole roadmap. Just some markers :)
So here it is, my wish list for my little baby boy....
That being said, there are a few wishes I have for my little M.D. not that he needs to become a certain person, or be good at certain activities; just the things I wish for him. Ideas and experiences I believe will help him along the way. Not a whole roadmap. Just some markers :)
So here it is, my wish list for my little baby boy....
1) Be the nice guy. Yes, I know, everybody says "nice guys finish last", but
that only happens until everybody turns about 21. Then the nice guys are the
ones getting married while the bullies end up alone or living in a trailer court
with their girlfriend named Chastity. Be the nice guy. To girls, to adults, to
children, to strangers, to everyone. Be the nice guy.
2) Don't let people walk all over you. Okay, so I said to "be the nice guy" but that doesn't mean you have to be everybody's doormat. When it matters, state your opinion. Let your voice be
heard. Be brave.
3) Be confident in yourself. Whoever you are, whatever you do, always be confident in that. People will ALWAYS try to tear you down. Don't allow them to. When someone boy in school
makes fun of you because you're too tall/too skinny/too smart/too handsome (snuck that last one in), just tell him that you haven't heard his mom's complaining. BAM! Okay...maybe save that zinger until at least 9th grade. :) But in all seriousness...I know the Bible says "turn the other cheek", but I'm of the impression that we only have 2 cheeks so once you've turned one it's Strike 3 You're Out! Sometimes it's okay to retaliate. (Okay...we technically have 4 cheeks...but I don't think Jesus was speaking of the other 2...)
4) Play a sport, even if you suck. You don't have to be good at it, and you don't have to
continue to play it. Just try it. Playing a sport will teach you teamwork, confidence, and will help keep you out of trouble. It will also make you some friends!
5) Play a musical instrument. This is a requirement...you're half Roby. You'll learn responsibility, persistence, and girls love guys who can play instruments (well...maybe not the trombone...but
you get the idea).
6) Speaking of girls...don't take them too seriously. Not for a LONG Time. From Middle School until the age of 25 girls are complete nutcases. You don't have time for that. Don't get
sucked in. Have fun. You'll have plenty of tie to settle down.
7) When you do settle down....find someone exactly like me :) Okay...kidding. But in all honesty, I hope that you find someone who loves you as close to as much as I do. It would be impossible for you to find another woman on this planet who could match my love, but find
someone who comes close.
8) Get. An. Education. No excuses. I don't care how long it takes, or how hard it is. Get an
EDUCATION! This is the most important thing you can do in your life, and it's the easiest thing to sweep under the rug. You won't see the rewards while you're eating Ramen in your college dorm room. You might not even see them 5 years down the road. But they will arrive and you will thank me for this bit of wisdom. Besides, what girl would pass up the college grad to date the guy who still works at the Kwik Trip down the road. ;)
9) Always remember your Faith. Hold onto that whenever things are rough, and remember there is nothing on this earth that we are incapable of making it through. God will always be on your side and he will always be looking out for you. Never lose your faith. It is the one thing you carry with you at all times.
10) Never forget where you came from. I want you to go out into this world and take it by storm. Think outside of the box, never leave stones unturned, never leave problems unsolved, take on everything you can and be a trailblazer for good, rightgeousness, change, compassion, betterment. But don't forget about us. Don't forget about your roots. You must always come home in between life's great adventures. You must remember where you came from, how you became the way you became, stay humbled. Besides, I'll be lonely for you while you're out saving the world :)
Love, Mama
that only happens until everybody turns about 21. Then the nice guys are the
ones getting married while the bullies end up alone or living in a trailer court
with their girlfriend named Chastity. Be the nice guy. To girls, to adults, to
children, to strangers, to everyone. Be the nice guy.
2) Don't let people walk all over you. Okay, so I said to "be the nice guy" but that doesn't mean you have to be everybody's doormat. When it matters, state your opinion. Let your voice be
heard. Be brave.
3) Be confident in yourself. Whoever you are, whatever you do, always be confident in that. People will ALWAYS try to tear you down. Don't allow them to. When someone boy in school
makes fun of you because you're too tall/too skinny/too smart/too handsome (snuck that last one in), just tell him that you haven't heard his mom's complaining. BAM! Okay...maybe save that zinger until at least 9th grade. :) But in all seriousness...I know the Bible says "turn the other cheek", but I'm of the impression that we only have 2 cheeks so once you've turned one it's Strike 3 You're Out! Sometimes it's okay to retaliate. (Okay...we technically have 4 cheeks...but I don't think Jesus was speaking of the other 2...)
4) Play a sport, even if you suck. You don't have to be good at it, and you don't have to
continue to play it. Just try it. Playing a sport will teach you teamwork, confidence, and will help keep you out of trouble. It will also make you some friends!
5) Play a musical instrument. This is a requirement...you're half Roby. You'll learn responsibility, persistence, and girls love guys who can play instruments (well...maybe not the trombone...but
you get the idea).
6) Speaking of girls...don't take them too seriously. Not for a LONG Time. From Middle School until the age of 25 girls are complete nutcases. You don't have time for that. Don't get
sucked in. Have fun. You'll have plenty of tie to settle down.
7) When you do settle down....find someone exactly like me :) Okay...kidding. But in all honesty, I hope that you find someone who loves you as close to as much as I do. It would be impossible for you to find another woman on this planet who could match my love, but find
someone who comes close.
8) Get. An. Education. No excuses. I don't care how long it takes, or how hard it is. Get an
EDUCATION! This is the most important thing you can do in your life, and it's the easiest thing to sweep under the rug. You won't see the rewards while you're eating Ramen in your college dorm room. You might not even see them 5 years down the road. But they will arrive and you will thank me for this bit of wisdom. Besides, what girl would pass up the college grad to date the guy who still works at the Kwik Trip down the road. ;)
9) Always remember your Faith. Hold onto that whenever things are rough, and remember there is nothing on this earth that we are incapable of making it through. God will always be on your side and he will always be looking out for you. Never lose your faith. It is the one thing you carry with you at all times.
10) Never forget where you came from. I want you to go out into this world and take it by storm. Think outside of the box, never leave stones unturned, never leave problems unsolved, take on everything you can and be a trailblazer for good, rightgeousness, change, compassion, betterment. But don't forget about us. Don't forget about your roots. You must always come home in between life's great adventures. You must remember where you came from, how you became the way you became, stay humbled. Besides, I'll be lonely for you while you're out saving the world :)
Love, Mama