my parents gave me the gift of freedom. freedom to be who i was anyway. they fed the animal (my creativity) and encouraged it to grow. i've been doing the same for my 5 boys and now that the chickens are beginning to come home to roost, they appear to be happy, well rounded children. music, art, cooking, singing, writing, athletics.... they are simply awesome!

it's no secret that i tell people... 
1) i'm raising global children, not local children
2) i'm raising leaders not followers
3) i'm raising thinkers and doers
4) men not boys in men's bodies

from their own mouths, so far i have an architectural engineer (age 12), a chef (age 12), a game designer (age 11), a rock star (age 4) and an artist (age 4). will they become these things? doesn't matter! the point is they are thinking about their futures! not lost in the woods or falling into the stereotypes set before them. anyone can offer anything but that doesn't mean they have to partake of it. they understand choices.

i've caught myself daily telling anyone who will listen that i have good kids. you know what? i REALLY do!!! i thought all this time i was teaching them but guess who got schooled? LOL the lessons have been mine as i continue to learn from the wise. do not discount the children because they are unexpected teachers.
 
"good parents give their children roots and wings. roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them"- Jonas Salk

wisdom comes from unexpected places. i do not discount the things to be learned from children and young people. many assume wisdom has an age on it....i beg to differ. how many times have you heard or said "out of the mouth of babes"? did you REALLY listen to what they have to say? pay attention. you may be pleasently surprised by the lesson of the day....