LET'S RAISE THE PERFECT CHILD

Now let's be realistic here. No one is perfect, even though many parents think they have the perfect child, or some people think they have the perfect mate . . . for a while at least.

The purpose of this article is for us Gather members to create as close to a perfect person as we possibly can. You are the parents of a newborn baby boy. Your family name is Mornington. You name your child Vector. Vector Mornington. You want your child to grow up to be a model citizen. What are you going to teach him? How are you goint to shape this tender plant? Do you want him to become just like you, or something entirely different?

Listed below are a few of the characteristics of a mature adult. How are you going to train baby Vector in each of these areas as he grows toward manhood?

1. Physical health, grooming and general appearance.

2. Personal habits, indulgences and addictions.

3. Ego, self worth and pride in self.

4. Relationships with peers and adults.

5. Empathy and insightfulness

6. Literacy, knowledge and wisdom

7. Spirituality and religious training

8. Pride, loyalty and patriotism.

9. Attitude toward materialism and financial matters.

10. Other attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.

You have a blank canvass to work with. Vector will grow up to be whatever kind of a person you want him to be. Let's raise a good, if not perfect, child.

Comments: 16

Michelle C. Jan 24, 2008, 3:31pm EST

Wow Great pointers. I'm a new parent and will use these to my advantage! GREAT article! Definitely a 10, nothing less! Thanks for the advice! ;)

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Thomas Millington Jan 24, 2008, 3:39pm EST

Jeff: I'm not sure how to take your comment. If you're serious then I thank you for the compliment. However I was looking for input from the community. It's been said that it takes a whole community to raise a child.

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Thomas Millington Jan 24, 2008, 3:41pm EST

Michelle: Thank you. I didn't think I was offering advice. Rather I was looking for your input as to how a child should be raised.

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Chris E. Jan 24, 2008, 3:44pm EST

Well I have got number 8 covered we are a military family. Pride, loyalty, honesty,duty and patriotism. Is something we teach our children well.

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Ryan M. Jan 24, 2008, 3:45pm EST

Oh gosh yeah I sometimes have tried to think of things regarding future kids of mine, so good questions to arise on what will happen, but still this article is good, I give it a 10.

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Chris E. Jan 24, 2008, 3:46pm EST

This is a great post. Now I am off to go work on number 4 with my own children.

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vicki B. Jan 24, 2008, 3:47pm EST

Any child whose parents set out to raise the "perfect child" is doomed from the start. The "secret" of parenting is to "model" the right values as best you can and accept and love your child for whomever he chooses to be. A child is NOT a blank canvas or clay to be molded to meet the parent's expectations. (That's how a lot of people end up in therapy - feeling "less than" for never having met their parent's standards of perfection.) There is no perfect parent. There is no perfect child. There is "unconditional love" and that means loving your child for the person he (or she) chooses to become.

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Thomas Millington Jan 24, 2008, 4:46pm EST

Vicki: Thank you for your input. However nurturing does play a vital role.

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Paul Barksdale Jan 24, 2008, 5:15pm EST

You really need to let the child grow up to be who he is, BUT, with of course adult guidance in getting there. That's what is so wrong today, the parents just let them grow up however with absolutely no guidance in what they believe to be the right path.

Parents should focus more on moral decency and respect for others and quit letting the television and video games raise their kids.

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Thomas Millington Jan 24, 2008, 5:26pm EST

Paul: I agree 100%.

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Donald Hawley Jan 24, 2008, 6:49pm EST

I agree with Paul also. I think the things I value from my parents most was the sense of honor, loyalty, honesty, truthfulness, trustworthyness. We were an old fashioned military family also.

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Thomas Millington Jan 25, 2008, 7:32am EST

I was hoping to get some feedback on each of the 10 areas listed above.

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firstname l. Jan 25, 2008, 11:24am EST

Thomas, I'm a mother of grown up children. They never let us decide what they would wear since they started to walk, I didn't say talk. We let them do that. The only thing we really cared for was that they should understand how to be healthy. We did that teaching them yoga from the very minute they were born, through massage and swimmng (newborns swim wonderfully cause they haven't forgotten how to close nostrils and feel great in the warm water, developing healthy and happy), when they were babies, and then through Tai Chi Chuan and different kind of sports when they were 3 years old. I never expected them to be anything else than happy. And the results are great. I wish they would have done that with me.
Being able to move and meditate through movement, helps you grow up with a natural awareness. All our areas are covered in this kind of "guidance", because all parents can do without failing is love deeply and completely, and guide their kids respecting each individuality, answering their questions, and letting them be. Of course, they are no saints, neither are we, especially me, I'm mischievous and love being so. I don't care about countries, religions or trends. Children are here to teach us, we're here to take care they don't get hurt and love them, and most of all, learn from them.

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Thomas Millington Jan 25, 2008, 11:42am EST

Alexandra: Thank you for your well-received comments.

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LET'S RAISE THE PERFECT CHILD

Comments: 16

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