Intentional Parenting

"How will our children know who they are if they don't know where they come from?" Ma Joad, from The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Years ago when Barbara Bush was the First Lady, she was asked to present a college commencement address at one of the East coast universities. There was quite an outcry from the students over her being chosen instead of some female success story they considered more worthy. The students protested that her contributions were not significant enough to merit being their graduation speaker. But, I like to think that she made them think with her message that day. She told them they would never regret not having spent more time at their job or office, but that they would realize  their most important work would be at home..."The future of this country depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house." If only that would become every family's motto.

My dream for America is that the family will survive when each of our households realizes the importance of what happens inside our own homes. My dream is that we will continue to fight the battles to win our children back from whatever is distracting them from the path they need to be on for their life's journey. I have fear in my heart for the children growing up in chaotic homes without direction or nurturing. No one has ever said there will be any guarantees that life is easy, parenting easy, or surviving easy. At times I've thought it would have been good to have instructions, although, I suspect some would refuse to read or follow them. Also, what works for one, won't work with another. Each of us has to find our own style and make our own journey. Don't forget to have fun along the way, cook something good to eat for your someone's, and encourage your children to have dreams.