Hi Neocon,
I guess you're right, it is ambitious. Still, something to strive towards.
I'm all for healthy and happy kids. But of more importance to me than my son's health and happiness per se is that he grow up with a sense of right and wrong (largely my responsibility; otherwise, it's "make it up as we go")..... Also, I try to encourage him to do the right thing just because it is the right thing. I am convinced that to the extent he can do that, he will be healthy and happy, so I view health and happiness more as a result than a goal of itself.
But the main thing I try to concern myself with is showing him. I just don't think kids learn from what you say, they copy what you do, and incorporate your values by and large (unless they sense a disconnect between your professed values and what you actually do). So, there's a responsibility and obligation there that I view as critical, since whatever he learns from me---good or bad---will be carried over into future generations.
Ambitous?----sure. But just imagine how many societal problems would simply vanish if parents worked very very hard at raising good kids, and professed societal values mirrored what was taught/shown in the home! I don't think any better investment in the future can be made. Many problems will not likely be solved any other way. So, considering the potential "payoff", I'd say such ambition is warranted, perhaps even necessary.
JMVHO......
WS |
