Different

I think a lot.  I think often.  I think about a variety of things.  I think about the same things.  I think about life.  I think about death.  I think about living.  I think about dying.  I think about everything in between.  I'm just a thinker.

I think about what my parents taught me, maybe I'm not the result they intended, maybe what I learned wasn't what was meant to be taught but, it certainly is the result.

My parents taught me to think.  To think for myself.  To form my own opinions.  To stand up for myself, even if it means standing alone.

My parents taught me to make an educated decision - to weigh one side against the other, to look at the outcome and to choose what I feel is best.  My parents taught me to find the definition and do the research, to educate myself.

My parents taught me to take care of myself, my things, to be responsible for my things, things belonging to others, my words, my actions, my reactions.

My parents took me to church to learn about God and Jesus, and my faith.  My parents understood when I lost my faith and they were glad when I found it but, they never once pushed it. 

My parents taught me consequences, respect, to listen to my inner voice, and to follow my conscience.

My parents taught me to speak up when I'm wrong, when I've made a mistake.  Yet, they were there to help me fix it.

My parents were tough.

My parents weren't mushy, weren't huggy, weren't cuddly, hell - my mother is barely even friendly but, I can't blame my parents for what may be wrong with me or my life.  My parents didn't teach me to blame someone else. I knew it was all on me.

My parents taught me to get my ass up off from the ground, dust myself off and go again - only this time, think about where it is I'm going first.

My parents made me work.  I helped with laundry, cooking, cleaning, yard work, taking out the trash.  As a teenage girl I whined about it all but, I never got a free pass.

I'm different.  I'm a thinker.  I want my kid to be a thinker.  I want him to learn how to dust himself off and go at it again.  I want him to be responsible, respectful, accountable, honorable, knowledgeable.  I want him to be strong, determined, and relentless.  I want his self esteem and his integrity to be high.  I want him to know he is loved more than anything.

I want him to be different. I want him to think!