What I want for my children in the future…
My thoughts
I’ve been thinking a lot about the future today, it might be because I’m getting older, it could be because of everything that’s happened lately with my illness and the uncertainty of it all. But, for whatever reason, my thoughts keep coming back to my children and in particular their future. What will they do as a profession, will they get married, have kids, but most importantly will they be happy?
All any parent wants for their children is, first and foremost, to be happy. Everything else is a bonus in my opinion. Sure I would love for them to be rich, successful, confident and have lots of friends. But these goals are superficial and they’re not the goals that I want to teach my children to be striving to achieve primarily. If they do become rich and successful, great, I’d be over the moon, but only if they were happy.

Firstly, more than anything l want my children to be healthy. I’ve had to live in pain for many years and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, let alone my kids. I honestly don’t think I’d cope very well seeing one of my babies in pain and feeling totally useless, it’s hard enough seeing them with a cold.
I would also like them to grow up having great personal attributes like; compassion, empathy, be kind, loving and to care for others. In a world that is fuelled with hatred, now more than ever, the least we can do as parents is to teach our kids these basic but very important attributes. It will stand them in great stead for their future.

My hopes for my children
Before I became a dad me and my wife, Ruth both wrote a little message to our unborn child, which we intend on showing to them when they’re old enough to understand. One thing that both of us mentioned was our hope for our kids to be proud of themselves. Proud of any small achievement, proud of their beliefs, proud of their sexuality, proud of their body….You get the picture, just proud of themselves regardless of any obstacles or negativity they face.
I think another very important quality in life is to be driven and to have ambition. My hope is that my children have the ambition, determination and belief to know that they can do anything they set their mind to. I want them to know that nothing is impossible and no goal is too big. If they realise that then they will be able to achieve anything they set their mind to.
Finally, and probably most importantly, I just want them to be happy. I touched on this a little bit earlier, and I believe if you are truly happy then life is just easier.
I know, as their Dad, in order for them to grow up to be the people I want them to be the responsibility lies with me and my wife. We need to instil these characteristics and attributes into them so that they get the best chance in life. Then hopefully they grow up to be the people that we hope, want and know they will be.
Thanks for reading,
This real life Dad xx
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Kathleen Fearns
June 21, 2017 at 1:09 pmIt is very difficult watching a child who is ill – whatever the illness. We all want the best for our children and I totally agree I wish all my children were truly happy and healthy. 💞
dadbloguk
June 21, 2017 at 9:49 pmI don’t think you can want for anything more. Very enjoyable post to read.
thisreallifedad
June 21, 2017 at 9:53 pmCheers John. Really appreciate it.
Anthony - Dada & Monkey
June 22, 2017 at 1:38 pmSummed it up for me, I will go to the ends of the earth to ensure my children grow up happy and healthy. Lovely post.
Lucy At Home
June 29, 2017 at 2:23 pmYes! Totally agree! As parents, we have the ability to change the world – if we can raise a generation that is compassionate and kind, the world will be a happier place for everyone #ablogginggoodtime
tammymum
June 29, 2017 at 6:31 pmI think you’ve summed up the thoughts and sentiments of most parents. I think happiness is key. I would love to think I am raising good, well rounded and kind people, people who deserve and put happiness first, above riches as you say. I love the idea of writing them a note to show them when they are older…might steal that one. #ablogginggoodtime
Alana - Burnished Chaos
June 30, 2017 at 6:35 pmLove this, I think you’ve perfectly summed up the way most parents feel and what we all hope for our children.
#Ablogginggoodtime
thisreallifedad
June 30, 2017 at 10:35 pmThank you so much.
Dave - Dad's Turn
July 3, 2017 at 8:41 pmSo true. A Nobel Prize or two wouldn’t hurt of course, but our kids being content in life is all we can really want for them.
thisreallifedad
July 3, 2017 at 9:49 pmThanks for the comment. Haha no it wouldn’t hurt at all.. 🤞
Dave - Dad's Turn
July 3, 2017 at 8:42 pm#ablogginggoodtime Sorry, forgot
Mummy in a TuTu (@mummyinatutu)
July 5, 2017 at 8:27 pmI think they are all wonderful things to hope of your children in the future and with you and ruth guiding them im sure youll get them there!
thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
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August 24, 2017 at 12:50 pmWhat a beautiful message. Being proud of ourselves, or I might say feeling like ” I am enough,” is such an important part of building character. Thank you for sharing.
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August 29, 2017 at 6:45 amThank you for reading. I’m a firm believer in giving them the confidence to know they can do anything and to know that they are enough.
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August 27, 2017 at 1:01 pmThis is so sweet and I have no doubt in my mind your children will have all of this given this declaration. It’s evident these children are loved.
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August 29, 2017 at 6:36 amThank you. I really hope so and they are certainly loved.
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August 29, 2017 at 11:06 amYou know it!
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