INDEPENDENCE

My parents always treated us like young adults, not kids, even when we were real little. They did that because they wanted us to be individuals, to learn how to take care of ourselves, to achieve things on our own.

—Carl Lewis

Every summer, Carl Lewis and his family traveled to visit relatives. His parents gave him and his siblings the money and had them step up to the counter to buy their own tickets. In this manner, they were taught to speak up for themselves. As parents, we have an obligation to help our children prepare for the world.

On this day, I pledge to give my child reasonable and age-appropriate responsibilities that will simultaneously help him feel capable and give him pleasure in his independence.