Millionaires Are Made

I finally have the correct definition of a good parent. Seriously, it makes the most sense.

With the COVID lockdown aftereffects, it seems everyone is questioning their purpose, value, and life roles.

The toughest 3 years in the past 100 have brought tons of questions, identity issues, and midlife crises at virtually any age.

The last couple of weeks I have seen lots of stress and disorder in families specifically. From the foundation of the parents fading away to children alienating themselves. New families are no different, as parents self-doubt if they are capable. (hint: you always are!)

Let's never, ever undervalue the difficulty, strength, and value of parents. The job of a Dad or Mom is immeasurable. It is the backbone of society, the requirement for mankind, and typically the comfort for an individual human.

But, like everything, some are better than others. Also, like everything, you can't really compare one parent to another as the environment and genes (the cards they are dealt with) are given with no option to them.

So, how do we try to console our tired and tired parents that have already done a tremendous job by bringing life into this difficult world? I mean, shoot, the odds of creating another human life are so minuscule alone, that it is a massive accomplishment!

Here is how I define a great parent. The answer to the following question must be a yes. It's that simple.

Did/Do you provide more opportunities to your children than you had yourself?

To clarify, you can define the opportunity how you wish. Financial, social, spiritual, physical, emotional, or intellectual opportunities are all equally important.

Did you grow up with $0 until you were 20? Well, did your children have a better opportunity to earn money?

Did you lack emotional health as a child? Maybe, but have you created a healthy space for your children?

Were you physically unfit and overweight with a poor diet? Have you provided the opportunity for better health with nutrition and exercise?

The key point here is the word opportunity. You can't and shouldn't force your children to do anything (after a certain age obviously). If they choose to only eat Doritos for their life, that's their choice. You aren't their owner or their God that must force them to do what you want as they grow. As long as you had vegetables, fruits, and other options available to them, then you succeeded as a parent.

If you grew up in a poor town with no money, education, or opportunity.....were you able to offer more for your offspring? Did they have work opportunities? Did you teach some sort of financial literacy?

Then you are a good parent.

Parenting isn't slavery. Obviously early on, you have to make their decisions and show them what you believe to be a proper upbringing. But, as time progresses, you will have less and less influence and they will grow into adulthood. You can't question yourself if your child becomes an addict. There are millions of sons and daughters facing the same temptations. It is a national problem.

You can't blame yourself if your child becomes broke, rude, hateful, or obese.....unless of course you showed them and taught them those habits.

If you provided more opportunity than you had as a child...... you are a great parent.

Shoutout to all the parents out there. It's the toughest job AND the most important in the entire nation, world, and the entirety of mankind.