Kara Baskin writes about 16 things she hopes her child turns out to be.  My top 5 wishes for my kid from a great list:

...who says “thank you” to the bus driver when he gets off the bus, “please” to the waiter taking his order at the restaurant, and holds the elevator doors when someone’s rushing to get in.

...who is open-minded and curious about the world without being reckless.

...who doesn’t need to affirm his self-worth through bigotry, snobbery, materialism, or violence.

...who likes to read.

...who is courageous when sick and grateful when healthy.


And then Kara says this about kids who screw up:
And I hope that if my child turns out to be a colossal screw-up, I take it in stride. I hope I remember that he’s his own person, and there’s only so much I can do. He is not an appendage to be dangled from my breasts on the cover of a magazine, his success is not my ego’s accessory, and I am not Super Mom.