Three Wishes

Amalah over at Mom's Daily Dose posted this writing challenge, and I thought it would be an interesting thing to think/write about.

What are the three things you wish for your kids to experience in their lives? Is it different for your sons and daughters?

Obviously every parent wants their child to be smart, funny, wildly successful, healthy, good-looking, talented, wealthy...the list could go on and on. But apparently I only get to pick three.

Narrowing things down, I know I want my children to be happy. I know that there is no way they'll be happy all of the time in every aspect of their lives, but I hope that overall their lives are happy ones. I hope that when they make important decisions in their lives, that in the long run, they are happy with the decisions that they made and do not live with regrets.

I want them to be successful. That can take many paths, depending on where their skills lie. I hope to be able to encourage them without imposing my expectations on them. I hope that they will choose their own passions, and then be successful at whatever those are.

I want them to be strong. I know that no matter how much I try to take care of them, life will throw many obstacles at them throughout the years. Sometimes I will be able to help them, sometimes I may only be able to comfort them in the aftermath. I hope that they have the strength to persevere, to keep trying new things, to not be afraid of failure because every failure teaches you something new, and to know that no matter what anyone says to them, that they are wonderful, wonderful people who will do amazing things.

As corny as it is, even before Claire was born, I dreamed of being able to share the words and sentiments of LeeAnn Womack's I Hope You Dance with my children. I think it does a great job of verbalizing what parents dream of for their kids.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance..........

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' like me, takin' chances, but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin',
Don't let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter,
If you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
and wonder where those years have gone.)