The measure of a man

I saw this comic today at toothpastefordinner.com (you should check it out) and decided that it was time to blog before I lose all 3 of the readers that I have left in this god-forsaken world.

As we grow up, we make certain declarations as to how we will raise our children (when we get older). It always has to do with an "injustice" in your own life. It's a way your parents treat you, or something that they won't let you do. But you know that when you grow up, you'll be the "cool" parent. When you grow up, things will be different.

Well let me tell you something: When you grow up, you'll be just like your parents. Sure you may change a few things, but in general you will be the same.

Of course, you are capable of making improvements. Maybe your parents didn't go to college, so the process of you choosing one and getting financial aid was difficult. So when you grow up, it will be easier because you'll know what a parent should be doing to help their child.

Those are the things that I think about. What improvements will I try to make for my kids? I've thought of two so far, and I shall use this forum to share them.

1. Money. I will find a way to better teach my children the value of money, and the importance of not building up personal debt while in college. Aside from being frivolous with a credit card for personal interests, I also used it for living expenses like food (and sometimes books and tuition). Credit cards allowed me to live the life I wanted without having to pay for it. Now that I'm older and wiser, I want to buy a house and enter full-fledged adulthood... but I can't because I spend a good portion of my money trying to get back to square one financially.

2. I was having drinks with a client last year and he told me about his children. This man had 3 daughters, and so I was very interested on his particular parenting practices (because I know about as much about raising a daughter as I currently know about women today.. and that's not much... just ask J-Love). He told me that it was hard to watch young men come to the house for dates because he used to be a young man and remembers the thoughts that went through his head at that age. Anyway, moving on... one particular parenting practice really interested me. He gave each daughter 3 "passes". If they were away from the house, they could call him at any time (day or night) for a ride home, and he wouldn't ask them any questions about the situation. He said each daughter had used it one time, and it built up more trust because they knew that they were never stuck in a bad situation, and didn't have to fear the repercussions of their parents finding out. I thought that was a good idea, assuming your kids weren't delinquents.

So when you have kids, how will you treat them? Will you take them to church? Make them get a job? Let them go to school dances and on dates? Be careful what you do because it will shape their entire future (ominous echo).....