I am just days away from delivering my second son. As my church, Christ Community, has had several years of a program we affectionately call Man School, many American ideals are being challenged... and in a good way... actually, a great way. So while Heath was reading through "Wild at Heart," I just had to pick it up too. It scared me a bit, to tell the truth. But I realized a lot that I needed to make sure to do with my sons. The last thing that I want to do is have the apron string twisted around my sweet boy's neck as he struggles against us to try out his wings. I have the scissors ready to cut the apron strings when it's time...
I just read a blog about "15 things a mom should teach her son." While I agreed with half of them, I decided to make my own list of what I want my sons to know as they grow up.
1. Having a relationship with God is the most important relationship you could ever have- learn to pray, learn to listen to the Lord - you will be alright... and you will learn that I am strict with you and work so hard to make you listen to me, because if you can't listen to me (with a physical voice), you will never learn to listen to the Voice of the Lord when He speaks to you.
2. You can do anything you set your mind to do. Never listen to anyone who says you can't. Just for kicks and giggles, show them you can.... but don't be afraid of the failure that might follow - and don't NOT try something because you are too afraid to fail.
3. How to clean a house- including doing your own laundry and cleaning the toilets.
4. basic mechanic work on a car
5. how to ask for help
6. Respect- there will come a day when your are no longer required to listen to me- until that point, you have to respect the rules that I have in place... I have a good reason for the rules I lay down. And I will be happy to explain my reasoning... learn to respect others, learn to respect yourself.
7. doing drugs is stupid... hooking up with a girl before you are married is something you will regret... getting drunk in public is dangerous -- dying your hair, wearing stupid clothes, piercing your ears, even tattoos are reversible... if you do something stupid, make sure the consequences are reversible.... and go to a reputable tattoo place if you are going to do any of that...
8. don't do what everybody else is doing... blaze your own trail... dare to be different.
9. do the right thing... always.
10. don't be afraid of your feelings... God isn't... you shouldn't be either.
11. learn to play an instrument... paint a picture... listen to all genres of music -- be a little cultured.
12. travel - you can learn a lot of important adaptive and problem solving skills when you travel.
13. use some common sense... think things through before you do it and think about the consequences.
14. I know that the brain is not fully developed until one is 21 years of age... up until that point, there will be things that I don't want you to do that your friends' parents are letting them do... so when you are off my insurance, you can decide what to do with your body... up to that point, I am responsible for you and I will not face the Lord and the first thing He says to me is "why did you let that happen to him?" Refer to #6 and #7.
15. never doubt that I love you. Never. second-guess that fact.
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