what are you teaching your children?
 

I was just wondering what everyone else is teaching there kids.
Not the basics like reading, writing, math etc, but the personal things you have learned over the years and want to make sure your offspring learn from you.
Me, I have two boys (unfortunately one's a Quadriplegic, non verbal) but I am teaching my sons the following

Chivalry: Stand when a woman joins or leaves the table, open doors, give up your seat on the bus etc. Maybe sexist but they are learning to do it anyways

Basic understanding of the use of hand tools including hammer, saws and automotive tools, It's also includes knowledge about things like how a wall is framed and how the internal combustion engine works

Cook your own food. Both my kids know how to cook and one can and already does.

My kids are also learning the power of the vote. They see their parents do it ever election, local to Federal

I'm not a hunter but I imagine to some gun respect is important.

I'd be interested to find what else people are making sure their children are learning from them personally?

Steve

Yes please, no thanks, and thank you very much.

My youngest isn't ready for guns, but for my 5 year old, I'll be taking her out and showing what happens to a gallon jug of water when it gets hit by a rifle, shotgun, and pistol. My grandpa did the same for me, gave me *instant* respect for firearms...

The greatest thing my kids have learned from me is christian charity and they did that without my telling them anything. The best thing they learned from my wife is love of family.

There is not much more you need to teach them.

At 5 and 3 not to hit each other, amongst other things.

I have taught my 9 year old how to:

swing
swim
boogieboard (ie catch waves)
skateboard
ride a bike
shoot a basketball and dribble (he travels though)
make electronic music
shoot and edit video
not smack other kids

he's taught me:

patience
empathy
pain
happiness

This part never really ends either.

I try to instill in my 9 YO daughter that life is a continual learning experience. I feel by encouraging her to be inquisitive, logical and involved she'll be get more out of life. If she understands how things work and why that's a good thing.

Also, it's important for her to be an independent leader and thinker. No need for her to follow popular trends seeking acceptance....All this with balance, of course.

He's 12. When he asks a question related to engineering I try to explain the physics behind it.

I've tried to get him into motorcycles (bought him one) and karts (I've offered to buy him a racing kart) but he'd rather play WoW.

+1

My daughter just turned three but I'm already afraid she's taught me more than I'll ever be able to give back to her.

Nose picking.

We don't have kids yet, but when we do, as soon as they are old enough (before 12), they will learn how to...along with the other normal things like swimming and wiping thier rear...

(by 10)Build and play guitars.
(by 8)Make a guitar pickup (the family business)
(by 10)Forge and wield a sword and the responsibilites that come with them - and other martial arts
(by 10)Properly sharpen a knife
(by 10)tan leather and general leatherwork
(by 12)Drive a car.
(by 14)construct a black power firearm - and the responsibilities...

"If you think you can, or if you think you can't...you're right!"

Randy

Just trying to keep the toddler from riding the dog.

We'll leave forging and wielding lethal weapons for a later date. ;)

I teach my kids that in order to have a truly meaningful life, you must serve someone other than yourself. Personal accomplishments are nice, but by themselves not fulfilling. Charity, kindness and service are the cornerstones of a meaningful life.

all true, as is
- being able to make good soup
- learning how to paint without making streaks
- not saying a word when your wife vents on you

That "failures" are learning opportunities, that there's always someone better(and worse) than you, that money will always be temporary but should be respected (along with first-time love), to learn a little about everything and a lot about some things, to do what they love and love what they do, that the choices and friends they make should be in their own best interest(and stick up for them), and that good guys/gals can finish first.

Also that common sense stuff about business, taxes, RE, mechanics, driving, repairs etc...

I heard that by the age of 3, 90% of the lifelong brain cells have been created. The rest is just connecting them.

John 70t
Nice choices
steve

High level: Respect and Responsibility (and as teenagers they get freedom and privilege if they exercise R & R).
Fun level: Music, Snowboarding, Boating, Autos, Reading, Lacrosse, Football, etc. etc., the point being whatever interests them. Teenagers will choose their own interests so I have to tag along and be a part of it.

This makes me think of a few things my parents pounded into my head many yrs. ago. I was about five when my dad first took me to the range to shoot and I could fully field strip his 1911 by the time I was eight. Younger than that and it's too hard to rack the slide back.

Chivalry around the ladies was something I really hated while growing up. I certainly had no problem acting that way around adults, but I thought it was a bit silly to let all the eight yr. old girls get on the bus before me, even when we got to the stop at varying times. Anyway, the chivalry thing certainly helps get the ladies later in life.

One of the best lessons, which I didn't really believe when my dad started telling me, was "Life if not fair". In fact, I think a good bit of the injustice in the world is a direct result of idiots trying to circumvent this immutable law of life and make it "fairer" for some but not for others. Once someone has really learned this lesson and believes it, I think they're probably an adult.

Personal responsibility was another big one. Our nextdoor neighbors in TX never ever thought their son was responsible for anything (believe me, he was). All the trouble he and I ever got into got me spanked and him told it was someone else's fault. Even when we were both accused of something I or we really didn't do, my parents still made me go offer to pay for whatever was broken or apologize to his parents. I really hated that.

Starkest example of the difference between our parents was when my dad came home one day to find the neighbors' son hitting golf balls toward our house. My dad told him to change directions toward the huge field away from both our houses. An hour later my dad came out to find a hole in his windshield with a monogrammed golf ball on his driver's seat. Monogram matched the initials of the kid's father and my dad had just told him to knock it off. Not only did he deny doing it, his parents backed him up!!!!!!