It has been said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” - Unknown

You bring your newborn baby home with great joy and some trepidation. You are finally a family and ready to lavish love, protection and dreams on this little bundle. But where is the owner’s manual?

Your manual tends to be your own parents. Some of you will raise your children the way you were raised. For others, it is just the opposite. “I’ll never do that to my children,” you may have said. Either way, your parenting style is not your own. It is a reaction to the way you were parented. It takes some work to create your own vision of how to raise your family.

Crosby, Stills and Nash sang, “Teach your children well.” But what will you teach them? What do you really believe in?

Here is your opportunity to set a new course. Give yourself a few moments to begin thinking about what it is that you value most. Take this opportunity to solicit the opinions of your partner and children and see where there is common ground. As you define this list, keep referring back to it. When there are decisions to be made, both large and small, these principles are your compass, guiding you and your family through challenges and indecision.

Let your principles define where you are going…. and determine your own road there.