Teach them to make different choices

My father gave me similar advice when I was going through some tough times in my college years. Schoolwork, lack of money, poor relationships, lack of sleep, excess drinking - were all taking a toll on me and I was stuck in a rut.

He noticed this and sat me down on the front stoop where most conversations between us took place. He referenced Michael Jackson's - Man in the Mirror:

I’m starting with the man in the mirror;

I’m asking him to change his ways;

And no message could have been any clearer;

If you wanna make the world a better place;

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.

(Mind you this was 2002ish, so I had no clue why he was bring back 1988, but apparently he thought it was relevant to times).

Either way, it worked, he made a connection and it hit home. Make sure you're teaching your kids that if things aren't going well, make a different choice. Go down a different path. Stop doing the same thing expecting a different result.

I'm not one to quote Shakespeare, but "the choices we make, dictate the lives we lead".

-HighSpeedDaddy