22 May 2008

Wishes Desires Needs

I want my daughter...
  1. To be kind.
  2. And generous.
  3. To question authority,
    and
  4. to respect others.
  5. To know that people and institutions are not infallible.
  6. To understand that people believe and don't believe in different things,
    and
  7. to tolerate those who think otherly than she does.
  8. To be able to forgive.
  9. To be a force for positive change.
  10. To push the limits of her intellect,
    and
  11. to be creative.
  12. To take care of her father and me when we grow old.
  13. And to be herself.

25 comments:

  1. that is one fantastic list -- especially numbers five and nine.

    spot on.

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  2. Tall order. "Tolerate those who think otherly" - yes, don't we all struggle with that one?

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  3. Excellent list. Save this for her. She will appreciate one day.

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  4. Anonymous12:50 PM

    Oh, I loved this. I wish these very things for my daughter - only I'm struggling with #3. Of course I want this for her, but I don't really want for it to apply to my authority. Heh. This is of course a battle I've already lost.

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  5. I was inspired to write my own list for my daughter, but you said it all. I do not wish to plagiarize, so I will link instead!

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  6. Sounds like what I want for my sons.

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  7. I may have to copy that list for my own purposes. I do hope I can teach my daughter to balance numbers 3 and 4. My brief foray into the k-12 world showed me that many children are being taught plenty of the former and not so much of the latter.

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  8. I would put "kind" first too.

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  9. ...and to know when to stop taking care of us so that she can take care of herself.

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  10. I love this list. And I'm sure that she's already well on her way to becoming or achieving many of these things.

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  11. with you as her mom, I don't see how she can miss.

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  12. I'm totally copying. I mean in my life, not on my blog.

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  13. Anonymous11:25 PM

    That's about all you can ask for, isn't it?

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  14. Anonymous3:33 AM

    This a great list to pin on the wall, and check it if she has attained that level!

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  15. Wonderful. Many adults should be working on a list like that for themselves.

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  16. P.S. I've tagged you for a meme. You're welcome.

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  17. Once again, Maggie, you've said something I'd say, if only I'd thought to say it :)

    I think I'd add something about "being able to deal with the hard things, and still not lose the joy that is life". I hate that term "resiliency"--it's been used far too much since 2001. But it is something I wish for my girls, and for all the daughters.

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  18. Amen, Sister. I hope the same for your daughter - and millions more. The world will need her.

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  19. I love that list. Especially the last one.

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  20. Perfect. And I love the statements linked by "and" because they are SO important to put together.

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  21. Dido
    Is that even how you spell that word?
    Remember when that word was part of popular culture? (Gag) I think because of Patrick Swayze or something...man, I need more coffee!

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  22. What a list. I have never articulated it all entirely and in order. The only one I would quibble with is #12. But that is because my MIL is a manipulative entitled woman who has done much damage, and I have been consciously trying to distance myself from anything that might make it seem like I think my daughter owes me anything.

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