were always missteps and the occasional breakdown, but for most of their childhood I felt like I was doing a good job.
I always tried to instill them with a good, solid set of values. My husband and I taught them right from wrong, to respect people, and to be helpful to others. We taught them that education was important, and that doing the right thing wasn't always the easiest choice, but would be the best choice. When they saw other kids their age doing things we didn't allow, or being given gifts at every turn, I'm sure they they thought we were just mean parents. We tried to explain that you should work for the things you want, in order to appreciate them, that money doesn't grow on trees and that just because you ask for something, doesn't mean you should automatically get it.
