Parenting Series: Fifty Things I Want My Child To Know About Life

To my children entering the world of adulthood - ***I recently wondered what I haven't taught you***. So here's my non-exhaustive list of things I want you to know.

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- **Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove {Matthew 10:16**}. Use common sense when dealing with people, institutions, and situations. When in doubt, trust your gut.
- **Don't use a Pampered Chef stone on an open flame**. It will break.
- **Cleaning up after yourself** right away will save you a lot of dread of doing bigger jobs later.
- **Don't give out your personal information to anyone** unless you need to for business, professional, or personal reasons.
- **Disable the GPS tracking on your smartphone** when you finally can afford one on your own since we have deprived you of this luxury.
- **Be kind to everyone but you don't have to be their friend** if they are not healthy or appropriate to be in a relationship with you.
- **You can buy potatoes, beans, corn and tomatoes in a store. **Not everyone has a garden.
- **Pay your bills on time and don't carry credit card debt.**
- **Watch for hidden fees in business transactions**. You don't need "all the extras."
- **If it's too good to be true, it is.** Unless it's answer to a specific prayer and you've checked it out with God first.
- **Pray every day and be in God's word as often as you can.**
- **Consult with God about your daily decisions**.
- **If it doesn't feel right, wait, or don't do it.**
- **Don't buy meat from Walmart.**
- **First impressions really do matter.**
- **Budget for your necessities first and make sure you can pay for them.** Get necessary debt paid off as soon as possible.
- **Stay away from people with bad pick-up lines**. Or good pick-up lines unless you want to have sex with them.
- **Don't have sex with anyone with consulting God first. **He does have something to say about it. If you're serious about your relationship with Him, you can't ignore this area.
- **Open the door for others.**
- **Don't be afraid to take risks.**
- **Don't take stupid risks**. Have common sense {see #1)
- **Build relationships with your siblings.** You have relationships with them for life. See them as adults, not as who they were as kids. Don't hold grudges.
- **Find a church you feel comfortable in**, but don't stay away until you find "the right one."
- **Keep in touch with your grandparents**.
- **Don't say display anything on Twitter or Facebook you wouldn't want a future boss**, spouse, or mother-in-law to see.
- **Don't throw credit card receipts or statements with personal information in the trash** no matter where you live.
- **Don't get into a car with a stranger**.
- **If you can't find a job, McDonalds is always hiring.**
- **Marriage is hard work**. Don't think you can change anybody but yourself.
- **Extend grace to others**.
- **Don't judge people who were not raised like you.**
- **Don't expect your future spouse to be like me or your dad. **
- **Earn your way in life** but **give to others** and **graciously receive** when something is given to you.
- **Air-dry any clothes** you don't want to shrink or look worn.
- **Clothes pins can be found at a hardware store.**
- **You can't microwave anything with metal.**
- **You need to brown a roast before putting it in the oven or crockpot.**
- **Kids are cute but don't have them before you are ready** to give up your time and energy to someone else.
- **Worship God no matter what the circumstance.**
- **Cheap food is not always the healthiest.**
- **You need life insurance, car insurance, and renter's or home-owner's insurance.**
- **Be cautious when walking in dark hallways. Park under lights in a parking lot at night.**
- **Be generous with kind words** as long as they are genuine.
- **Don't order things from TV advertisements.**
- **Cheap is not always better.**
- **Expensive is not always quality.**
- **Go to a doctor when you think you need to.**
- **You can learn to do just about anything**. Most of what your dad and I know we didn't know when we were your age.
- **Don't be afraid to try new things.**
- **Your way is not the only way.**

That's all for now. I love you,

Mom