Your family is the most precious treasure in your life. The greatest gift you can give your kids is a solid set of values. Take a moment to determine how your actions may be affecting them. Remember, if you don’t pass your values on to your children, someone else will.
If you:
- Teach your kids that money is everything, they’ll stop at nothing to get it.
- Do everything for your children, you’ll make them feel good for nothing.
- Teach your kids that dishonesty pays, they’ll pay for it for the rest of their life.
- Reward your children, without their earning it, they’ll work hard not to work.
- Close your eyes to bad behavior, your kids will always live with a blind spot.
- Shield your children from adversity, you’ll make them weak. (Heaven protect them.)
- Teach your kids to envy, they’ll never be satisfied with what they have.
- Shelter your children from reality, they’ll always live a fantasy.
- Fight your kids’ battles, you’ll make them frail. (That’s a losing battle.)
- Tackle every problem for your children, you’ll make them helpless.
- Teach your children to be a victim, you’ll rob them of hope.
- Protect your children from hard knocks, you’ll make them soft.
- Gift your kids everything, you’ll make them dependent. (Thanks for nothing!)
- Teach your children to hate, they’ll show you how ugly some folks can be.
- Protect your kids from opposing viewpoints, you’ll make them close-minded and shallow.
- Teach your children to give up, they’ll always fall short of their dreams.
- Give your kids everything, you’ll deprive them of aspirations.
- Lower your expectations of your kids, you’ll get what you expect.
- Teach your children to cheat, you’ll cheat them out of living an honorable life.
- Set a poor example for your children, you’ll teach them to be just like you.
Our world may have changed, but the importance of integrity has not. As leaders, role models, and parents, we must strive to utilize every opportunity available to us to reinforce the values and beliefs that we hold dear. If you instill good values in your children, you give them everything! Set high standards, remain true to your values, listen to your conscience, and do yourself proud. Watch your children grow, and they will teach you what you’ve taught them.
What’s the Greatest Gift Parents Can Give Kids?
Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.
Additional Reading:
15 Ways to Pass Your Values On to Your Kids
Are You Preparing Your Kids for the Real World?
Parenthood Isn’t Child’s Play
25 Ways to Screw Up Your Kids
5 Powerful Truths for Raising Well-Adjusted Children
Where Do Bullies Learn to Be So Mean?
13 Ways to Be a Good Role Model
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The greatest gift my parents gave me (and my brother) was respect. For years, as I grew up, I intended to go into medicine as a nurse, physician, or following my father in research. I began college as a pre-med student. When interest in literature and writing made me less decisive, my father responded with “You decide; it’s your life.” When I met the man with whom I eventually shared 60 years, I knew I couldn’t marry both a man and a profession. Years later, my brother told me how upset my father had been, but the only message he gave me at the time was, “It’s your decision, your life.” My parents requested that I finish another year of college before marriage, and because I appreciated their attitude, I complied. That wasn’t the only time I took their advice because I knew they cared, not because I was inclined to do so! I have never regretted my decision, and I am forever grateful to parents who respected me enough to believe that, as I entered adulthood, I should make major decisions myself.
I am well aware now that the way my parents respected and loved each other paved the way for me to say “yes” to a man with whom I would experience our own version of my parent’s love story, and I am amazed that my father so carefully hid his disappointment, which, judging by the expression on his face in photos, was somewhat assuaged with the arrival of grandchildren.
Hi Debby —
Thanks for sharing your story. I believe we often misconstrue a parent’s disappointment with the fact that they’d do things differently. That said, it doesn’t always make them right.
I believe parents should give their kids a solid education, instill good values, and set them free. Our kids have the right to choose what’s best for them. Of course, that’s easier said than done 🙂
I’m glad your parents chose to go that route.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank