30DWC - Day 23 - What I Want My Children to Learn

Now, I'm not married or even engaged yet, but I think about my future children kind of a lot. To be honest, it kind of freaks me out to know that I may be responsible for an entire person's life for at least 18 years of it. What if I screw it up? What if they turn out to be druggies or strippers... or sports fans? Gross.

I am in no way perfect, but there are some things I hope my children learn from me, and from other people.

• I want them to be responsible for themselves. I know it's annoying when people who don't have kids say stuff like this, but I refuse to be a helicopter parent. Always hovering. Your child can't learn anything if you do everything for them. Obviously, it's okay to help a 2 year old tie his shoes, but it is not acceptable to write your 6th Grader's essay for him. (This happened yesterday, btw.) Along with this (and I know it sounds extreme), I want my kids to learn the hard way if it's necessary. I won't be a parent who puts safety corners and cushioning all over my house. Kids need to learn that running into a corner hurts, or if they touch an oven, they'll get burned. Clearly, I'll caution them about these things, but if they're bull-headed enough to try it anyway, they'll learn quickly what is and isn't okay to do. Side note: this does not apply to chemicals. I will lock away any cleaning supplies in my house. I want them to learn, not die. 
• I want them to be kind to everyone. Not to brag, but I was a really good kid. I was friendly and agreeable, and as a result I made friends with anyone I wanted. I don't like kids who are snobs and only talk to the people who wear designer clothes and have good hair. Be friends with good people, and forget the popular jerks. 
• I hope my children will be Christians by their own choice. It's widely used, but it's very true; Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This is comforting, but scary at the same time. Like I said earlier, the thought of being in charge of a person's life is scary. Being in charge of their soul (to an extent) is much, much scarier. I want to lead by example. I will bring my kids to church on Sundays, and I will teach them to follow Christ regardless of the consequences. However, I want them to make the decision to follow the Lord on their own because of that teaching. I can't force them into that. But what if I fail? What if they don't listen? That's terrifying to me, especially since I want to adopt. What good would it do to take in an abandoned orphan from Africa, only to have him become a calloused atheistic adult? The whole point is to go and make disciples of all nations. 
• I want them to be financially responsible. I didn't learn this until adulthood, and there are still things I'm learning about it. 

- Bowman