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To say I was startled is an understatement. At 34 I was very enamored of corporate America and my career. I was also very enamored of my new husband, who was packaged with an adorable son from a previous marriage. My new family seemed complete. A baby was simply not part of my grand life plan - not at all.

Looking back, I realize that God obviously wanted my daughter brought into the world. The birth control pill had no power against the Divine. It took a full 24-hours to wrap my arms around this new reality: I was going to be a mother! God had seen fit to put the fate of another human being in my hands.

As my baby developed inside me, so did my feelings. In a surge of maternal love, I was determined to provide the very best for my child . . . and by "best" I was not referring to material things. My career aspirations paled as my new responsibilities became clear: God was not putting this child on earth to be raised by day care workers; rather, God was putting this child on earth to be raised by me.

What makes a "good" person? What formula is there for shaping an ethical human being? Looking back on my own childhood, I give thanks to parents who took me to church and Sunday School. It was from my earliest days that I discovered a power higher than myself, and that God cared about me and my behavior, and that there were rules for living "right". My mother stayed home to raise me, knowing that the best efforts of day care workers could never replace her guidance. She socialized me in play groups so I would learn how to get along with other kids. She modeled appropriate behavior at grocery store, mall and library, knowing I would mimic her mannerisms. She led by example.

My mother stayed with me for a week after my baby's birth. It was a wonderful experience! She took this opportunity to pass on a lifetime of wisdom. "How do I teach my child ethics?" I asked her. And here is her response:

A learning ethic: Encourage your baby to explore. Over time, expose her to toys, textures, videos, music, animals, colors and shapes. Read to her from her earliest days, so that she naturally absorbs diction, enunciation, and expression. With meaningful stimulation, her brain will synapse and learning will come effortlessly. She will be prepared for preschool and kindergarten, already fortified with knowledge and eager to learn more.

A listening ethic: Teach your baby to listen, first by talking to her. Even in infancy, discuss world events, recipes, books and your daily chores.

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