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It doesn't look like I will ever be blessed with such an opportunity as to raise my own child, but I have thought about it a lot in my life. I have always given a lot of thought as to how I would raise my child.

10) Honor - It is a quality that is dying in our world, yet it should be a large part of how we live. Everything from not cheating in games or school to not cheating on your spouse.

9) Etiquette - I am not talking about knowing which fork to use. I mean simple etiquette like men holding the doors open for women and taking their hats off when inside. Talking to others with respect. Chewing with your mouth closed. Girls sitting with their legs together.

8) Responsibility - Too often these days, kids grow up with out having to do chores and such. Too many get older and have a hard time facing their responsibilities because they have never been taught to suck it up and do what you don't want to do anyways.

7) How to win and lose - None of the spoiled acts from my kids. If you win, do it with grace and respect for your competition and if you lose take it like a winner. No rubbing it in and no pouting.

6) Drugs - I would try very hard to make sure they would not want to try drugs. That if a friend pushed them to do it that they weren't their friends, so they did not need to impress them. This would include drinking and smoking.

5) Give your all - As the saying goes... "If its worth doing, its worth doing right!" If you are playing a sport, don't go half way, go all the way. If you lose its okay as long as you gave a true effort.

4) Learn - Nobody knows everything and the more you know the better off you are.

3) Think! - Don't listen to your friends and think they always know the truth. Listen to everyone and think for yourself before you make a decision. There are a lot of book smart people who are actually quite stupid. Its good to know a lot, but its more important to be able to think with logic.

2) Humor - I cannot express how important humor is. If I didn't have a good sense of humor, I would have offed myself a long time ago. One needs to see the lighter side of things. I have said it many times and I still believe it. There is absolutely nothing that is so serious that one cant find humor in it. No, not even in death!

1) God - If my kids would not take any one of the other nine pieces of advice I would want them to take this one. Keep your eyes on God! If your eyes are focused on God, you will naturally be a better person. If you keep your faith in God, there is no situation you cannot handle. Also, if you fail in every aspect of your life, whether it be financially, love, health, athletically or whatever, the most important thing is to get yourself to heaven. After all, what is a few years of crap on earth compared to an eternity in paradise? That is a lot better than living a few years of joy on earth and spending an eternity in hell! Whether your life on earth is good or bad, work toward the eternity.

Learn more about this author, Kenneth Schonmeier.
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