I forgot about this blog.  Until someone came and commented very nicely on something I had to say.  So I guess I am back!  Now I just have to find something to rant about….

On my way to work this morning I was thinking about my children, and how fast they are growing up.  While I am not the perfect parent by any far stretch of the imagination, there are several things that I was very careful to teach my children from the beginning.  These are things I wish everyone would teach their children.  Maybe then there would be far less assholes in the world.

1. You are the only you there will ever be.  Ever.  No one else will ever be you.  With the billions of people in the world, no one else is just like you.  And I love you, for you.

2. Life is what you make of it.  It can be as hard or as easy as you choose to make it.  Because life is full of choices.  Sure sometimes life is just thrown at you.  Things happen that you can’t control.  It is how you choose to handle these things that make your life what it is. 
3. You deserve to be loved and respected and not forced or coerced into doing things that you don’t want to do.  Peer pressure is just that, pressure.  Don’t be defined by who your friends want or think you should be.  Be defined by who you want to be and what your goals for your life are.
4. Don’t ever compare yourself to others.  You are unique (see rule #1) and because you are unique, you can’t compare to anyone else.  Be the best you that you can possibly be.  Everyone has flaws, but if you know that you have a tendency to say, sleep late, compensate by going to bed earlier.  Are you pre-disposed to lying and you aren’t quite sure why?  Well then figure out what causes it and make it end. 
5. Be empathetic.  Think about other people and how what you do or say affects them.  How would you feel if someone say, pulled your hair, called you names, lied to you, stepped on your toes?  If you wouldn’t like it, then don’t do it to others.
6. Think about your actions.  All of them.  Every action has a consequence, whether good or bad.  You may not be able to clearly see where your choices are leading you, but know that you will have to live with whatever action you choose; forever.
7. Respect others and you will be respected.  I used this even in my discipline.  I do not yell and scream to get what I want.  (I have lost my cool before, I am not a saint).  But now we are at a point where my kids do what I ask, because they respect me and feel respected by me.  Not because I am a dictator, but because they love me and want me to be proud.
8. This is a big one in our house….do not touch other peoples things without permission.  You don’t want people touching your stuff, don’t touch other peoples stuff.  It just goes back to the respect thing.
9. No name calling.  There are better ways to vocalize what you are feeling than making someone hurt with your words.  Use your words for good, because once you say something, you can never take it back.

I am sure I am forgetting some, but these are the core rules.  I feel better now.

So I barely ever posted in my other one, so don’t hold your breath for this one. 

 I have only one thing to say today.

Blah, that is all.