I decided this morning to try an experiment in philosophy with my children. What would be the response if I asked each of my kids what they thought were the most important things to accomplish while on this big, blue marble? Their lists were funny and profound.
Elise: Age 8
Be kind to others, even plants and animals
Get a nice car
Grow up
Be happy every single day of your life
Enjoy Life
Have Fun
Love your family
Try new things
Be a bundle of joy
Don’t complain unless it’s about your chores
Learn
Be weird
Matthew: Age 11
Return to Heavenly Father
Have fun
Get married
Make Friends
Go to School
Eat Candy
Get a Job
Make money
Get a nice house
Ashlynn: Age 13
Be happy
Live righteously
Get married in the temple
Have a family
Get an education
Get a good job
Never work at Gamestop
Get a home and don’t trash it
Visit your family
Have good friends that respect you
Avoid boys who ride skateboards in the middle of the street
Call Emma every week
Jameson: age 16
“That’s a hard question…Ummmmm
Gain a testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior
And wordly- wise...
Expand on your talents
Become successful for your future family
Work hard
Have fun
Make friends
Play video games...I'm just kidding about that. Don’t write that!”
7 comments:
Wow, you have some good kids. I'm 26 and my answers consisted of Going fishing and eating Hostess products. But seriously, I am impressed.
My favorite: "Don’t complain unless it’s about your chores."
Question: Does a teacher starting a new school year in 10 days qualify as a chore?
Yes- It qualifies. Chores when were little are having to make the bed. Chores when we are adults are having to go make money.
Loved this post! I also love your kids! They are such good kids! I hope my kids would give me some of those same answers (except about playing video games!).
That was funny. I like the part where Ash says "Call Emma every week"
"Avoid boys who ride skateboards in the middle of the street" - Karleigh used to ride alongside those boys who rode in the street. Do you know something I don't know?
I work at Gamestop. Do you know something I don't know. (j/k, I don't work)
Elise, you're only 8, so here's a heads up on something I wish I learned a whole lot sooner. You're a Heywood, you don't have to accomplish being weird. It's done. Oh, and also that you can't and shouldn't be happy everyday of your life. The sadness is a part of life that we are supposed to experience alongside the happiness. There's just gonna be some sad days.
Daniel- I'll pass on the wisdom. Ashlynn has an aversion to boys and skateboards after one just about took her out after school one day. Elise clarified that being weird was not trying to be weird but letting it out and sharing her weirdness with other people. That is very important to her...the sharing part.
As for the happy thing. She just is. Happy that is. She stubs her toe. cries, and gets back to being happy. I wish I could be more like her. I "stub" my toe and get stuck on the crying part for awhile. I gripe at the door that caught my toe. I gripe at the kid who left their toy in the hall so I would have to move two inches to the left that put me in contact with the door. By the time I get a grip on my gripes the whole day is colored in blue. The difference with Elise is that her moment is sad and then she moves on.
I wish I knew how she does it. Genetics probably. Some of us are naturally happy and some of us have to naturally work hard at being happy. Fortunately, the two groups seem to help each other. The gripers help the ultra happy live with reality when needed and the ultra happy help the gripers let go of reality and consider the possibilities of the unknown.
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