I’m a wonderfully flawed individual who ended up with another wonderfully flawed individual. Together, we’ve raised three wonderfully flawed children. From the start, my partner Jake and I acknowledged that we were navigating uncharted waters. Our cluelessness hit home during a parenting workshop seven years ago. The instructor asked, “Raise your hand if you’ve never changed a diaper!” and there we were, the only two with our hands proudly in the air.
At that moment, we realized our unborn child was in for quite the ride. It was clear to everyone in the room, including us, that we had a lot to learn.
Understanding our limitations, we decided to set realistic expectations for our kids. We encourage them to strive for their best and celebrate their achievements, but more importantly, we emphasize the importance of kindness. I don’t just want my kids to be nice to those who mirror their own identities; I want them to extend kindness to everyone. Yes, to people of every color and background. Yes, to the LGBTQ+ community. Yes, to those who might seem different from us — because let’s face it, we all have our quirks.
Our family mantra is simple: PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. BE KIND TO THEM.
One of the most challenging aspects of parenting is not knowing whether you’re on the right track. You just keep doing your best until something happens that confirms you’ve either hit the mark or missed it entirely. Recently, I received a message from my son’s teacher that brought me immense joy. She informed me that my son, Lucas, was awarded the “Good Citizenship” honor for his kindness and support towards a classmate named Ethan.
“Who is Ethan?” I inquired. “He’s a boy with autism,” she explained. “Lucas has shown remarkable patience and made a significant impact.”
Lucas had mentioned a funny boy in his class before, but I hadn’t realized he was talking about Ethan. We have friends with children on the spectrum, so he might not even see Ethan as different.
The next morning at breakfast, I asked Lucas about his new friend. “Oh! Ethan is my buddy! He has a disability. But you know what? His disability is that he just can’t stop being funny!”
I had to turn away to wipe my tears, overwhelmed by pride. Then Lucas exclaimed, “And his favorite color is rainbow! Isn’t that awesome?!” while happily munching on his cereal.
Days later, I found myself among a crowd of proud parents at the awards ceremony. Lucas, completely unaware of the honor awaiting him, sat quietly – a stark contrast to the lively boy he was just a year ago, who would have struggled to sit still.
Later, I arrived at his class for the end-of-year celebration. “HI, MOM!” he shouted, full of enthusiasm. Sitting beside him was Ethan, a boy I hadn’t met before. “Hi! Who’s your friend?” I asked.
“This is Ethan!” Lucas replied cheerfully.
“Hi, Ethan! I’m Lucas’s mom,” I said, and Ethan beamed back.
The world doesn’t need more unkind people; it needs more compassionate souls. I hope my kids can grow to be those compassionate individuals.
If you’re curious about starting your own family journey, consider exploring options like an at-home insemination kit for a more personal approach. For those looking for additional resources, check out the ACOG’s guide on treating infertility, and consider the intracervical insemination syringe kit for your fertility needs.
In summary, raising children to be compassionate rather than perfect is a journey filled with learning and growth. Our family’s focus on kindness has already shown promising results, and I’m hopeful for the future.
Keyphrase: Raising Kids to Be Kind
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]