Life Lessons: A mom to her son

 

At the end of August my son celebrated his birthday.  Twelve years ago this little being came into my life and changed it forever; and while I could go on for hours about all the greatness that is my son (I am no different than any mother) I found myself wondering if I had taught him the lessons that I wanted to.  I am not a complex being and I don't feel that I ask too much out of this thing called life, but there are lessons that I want my son to learn.  So I felt I had to master my thoughts and write down the lessons that are most important to me.  I will share the short list with you:

1. While technology is fun and a basic necessity of life today, don't forget that you are part of something much bigger.  There is an entire universe, sewn together by delicate threads, that begs you to explore it. 
2. Don't miss the simple beauty around you.  The brilliance of an orange winged butterfly, the exact shade of a perfectly clear night sky, or the winking moon that watches over your slumber. 
3. Be kind.  Pet a puppy, allow a kitten to curl up on your lap, or a baby duck to eat food out of your hand.  Never be harsh or nasty to those that are unable to help themselves.  A real man will be kind to all those around him.
4. Love those around you and never let them wonder how deeply you feel that love.  Say it often and mean it.
5. Remember that while money is a pretty nice luxury it will not hug you when you are frightened, it will not laugh at your jokes, and although it will fill your closet with beautiful things it will not fill your heart.
6. Laugh as much as humanly possible.  There will be days that laughter seems so hard to accomplish but it will lift your spirits quicker than anything else.
7. Don't forget to be thankful.  Whether you live in a mansion or a shack, there is always something to be thankful for.
8. If everyone in the world got together and threw all their troubles in one big pile, realize that yours are truly not that bad.  There is always someone else going through a trouble worse than yours.
9. Give it twenty-four hours.  Give life and troubles and heart aches twenty-four hours and if that is not sufficient enough give it twenty-four more.  Always one more day!
10. Never be blind to the world around you.  See the man on the street begging for change, see the heart ache of a mother losing a child, memorize the lines of worry on a veteran's face, and never be too busy or important to recognize it.
11. Be a simple kind of man.  Love pure, live honestly, and never be someone you are not.
12. Forge your own path.  No matter where it will lead you, make sure that path is your own.
13. Be daring.  Dare to dream big, reach far, and accomplish much.

I know there are a thousand other little lessons I want for him.  A thousand other things I would love to tell him, to scream at him, to fill his head with.  But these are the most important things in my eyes and I feel I have done a good job.  When celebrating his birthday I told him that he has to remember that times are hard for a lot of families right now and not to expect extravagant gifts.  His reply: "Mom, I'm just glad everyone is coming and we'll all be together.  I don't care if they bring me anything."  I have done a good job!

What are the lessons most important to you?