Things I want Lincoln to know...

I think often about the kind of young man I hope Lincoln grows up to be.  Lincoln, we love you so much and your dad and I try every day to be the best parents we can be. 

Characteristics, Traits and Values we hope to teach.

• Family time is #1.  Our time with Lincoln is priceless. We hope to create a routine of family nights in our home as Lincoln grows up.
• Lincoln growing up and being happy is not our goal.  Happiness is a feeling, like something being hot or cold, and will change with the weather. We hope to impart a feeling of contentment and peace, a state of his spirit and not his emotions.
• We hope you grow up having an appreciation for hard work and knowing the value of money and the cost of having things.  Things will come and go, but you learn and grow from the lessons learned through hardwork and perserverence. 
• Silly things, like how to cook, do his own laundry, make a bed.  Lucky for me your dad knows how to do all of this and helps me with all household chores.
• Lincoln will be taught to be respectful.  To teachers, grandparents, babysitters and our friends.
• Lincoln will be encourages to show gratitude, compassion and volunteerism.
• Lincoln will be taught that he is accoutable for his actions.
• Lincoln will know how to have fun and play hard.
• Lincoln will know that laughter is the best way to make others smile.
• Lincoln we want you to have an imagination! To build rockets with cardboard, color outside the lines, play in the mud, splash in the puddles, sing in the rain, make airplanes with legos and people with play doh.
• Lincoln will know the 'Bambi' rule.  You know, if you can't say anything thing nice, then don't say anything at all.