Wow, Okay, I have raised three children and they are all reasonably happy and healthy, and we are all still friends. Here is what I know. Love and respect go hand in hand. I’m pretty sure you cannot have one without the other. Forgiveness too, is extremely important. Everyone makes mistakes, no one is immune, also, there is a difference between a mistake and pathological behavior. A mistake is forgivable, a long pattern of bad behavior may not be.

People who believe in God(s) all worship a different Being. No one worships the same God. They might think they do because they call their God by the same name, or describe their God in similar terms, but their God is not my God is not her God is not his God. God is as individual to people as their fingerprint, and so too, the relationship you, or I, believe we have with him/her. Either way, unless that God is destructive to them or those around them, you should respect their right to worship the God they envision and not demean them for it.

The responsibility that comes with power. Children learn this from popular culture: with great power comes great responsibility. What does that mean, exactly. Parents have great power over their children, what does it mean for them, discipline, obedience, authority? We want obedient children, but not by beating or berating them into submission, not if you are responsible with your power. Adults are a child’s authority figure, but does that mean you have the right to dominate every aspect of their life? Not if you want a relationship built on mutual respect. Learn to use your adult powers wisely and children will usually follow your good example.

Listen to your kids, at all ages, no matter how silly it seems, engage with them. One day soon they may know more than you can ever imagine and enrich your life beyond measure unless you’re too arrogant to lend them an ear. If that is asking too much, then one day, when you are sitting alone in your old chair, don’t be surprised that your kids never come to call.