Lessons for our children

Parenting is tough. I'm always worrying, praying and hoping that I'm doing a good job and that I'm teaching my kids the things they will need to know to grow into kind, thoughtful, responsible adults who celebrate and appreciate life every day. But what exactly is it I want them to know to accomplish that goal? Some days it seem like all I do is remind, reprimand, and refuse ("No, you can't do that" is a common refrain at our home.)

Everyday we teach our children something.
 Sometimes it's the big lessons in life. Like kindness and generosity and forgiveness.
And sometimes it's the small, yet still big, ones like "Which one is worse, Mom? The F-word (fart) or the B-word (barf)?"
My mind has been wandering lately on what lessons for our children we provide daily... and for the long haul in life. It's not a complete list, and not nearly as poetically profound as I'd like it to be, but here is a short list of what I hope we have/will teach our children.

• love one another and to say "I love you" often
• from the time they were a newborn, teaching them how to sleep through the night - and even more importantly, sleep in their own beds in their own rooms.
• sharing with siblings and friends, apologizing when you are wrong, being a good sport, listening to what others are saying
• being honest and telling what really happened
• table manners - chewing with mouth closed, elbows off the back of the chair, "please & thank yous"
• brush your teeth... don't just suck the toothpaste off the brush (nightly battle in our house).
• that sometimes we just need to calm down & cool off with a time out
• helping around the house - my kids have their own laundry basket in their rooms in which they put (most of the time) dirty clothes go in (and not on the floor); when I'm doing laundry & ask, they will bring their baskets to the laundry room, they help put their own clean clothes away (obviously this is helping and not doing all themselves); pick their spoons, forks and placemat for meal time & then bring their dirty dishes to the sink themselves; help clean up toys.
• Trying a new food (sometimes several times over)
• Homework is an extension of what they have learned at school and is good practice.  Both my kindergartner and preschooler (for speech) do their homework at our kitchen table.  We help read directions, encourage, check over and praise often & sincerely.
• Being safe in the car (with seat belts always), playing away from the street, not talking to/going with/taking anything from strangers.
• that your brother and/or sister(s) will be your friends for life.
• We love you unconditionally!