Five words

I have to give credit where credit is due. SciFi Dad wrote this blog post and asked us to answer this question: What five words would you hope your children would use to describe you? It was though-provoking enough for me to want to answer lengthy enough to warrant its own post.

1) Fun. I have no interest in being my children's friend. As a matter of fact, I think this fault is one of the major problems in what's wrong with kids today (OMG, I just said "kids today." Am official 87.) I think too many parents lose their ability to actually parent because they're trying too hard to get their kids to like them. I am their mother. Not their friend. That being said, my hope is that one day if I've done a good enough job, they actually become my friend. So even though I may not get down on the floor and play Little People every day, I hope my kids see me as fun. A mother who did things. Who took them fun places. Who was happy and had game nights and let them help cook and bake. Who danced to stupid music and sang poorly to made up songs, currently "He's my heiney boy, heiney boy, heiney heiney heiney boy!!" I suppose I should stop that before he goes to high school.

2) Open-hearted. I am friends with all kinds of people - colors, creeds, sexualities. I think everyone should be celebrated for their differences, not judged or persecuted. I believe that men and women die every day so that we have that right in this country and I don't take that lightly. I hope my children can come to me with anything without fear of reproach or judgment. And that they, in turn, learn this from me.

3) Respectful. I hold doors for people. I say please and thank you. I look in people's eyes when I speak to them. I shake their hand firmly. I keep secrets and don't gossip. I've never talked to my children in baby talk, always treating them with the respect of any other person. I respect other people's opinions and even if i don't like them or think they're plain wrong, I respect their right to have it.

4) Generous. I don't have much but I give as much as I can. A friend can call at 3 am stuck somewhere, and I'd go help. You need me? I'll be there. I buy groceries for the food pantry. I donate money and clothing every year. I buy stuff for care packages for the troops in Iraq. I may not have much, but there are certainly people who have less and I try and remember that.

5) Strong. I work very hard for the things in my life. I don't take crap from anyone. I believe that having a strong sense of conviction, a backbone, and good character are things that no one can strip from you. Women don't need to be rescued. I hope my kids see how hard I work and know that I did it for them.

What about you? What five traits would you hope your kids would use to describe you? Do you share any of mine?