[vrclay]

<p>I was watching a TLC 19 kids epidsode and the mom, Michelle, was speaking to a group of moms.  She said the most important character qualities she teacher her children are self-control, obedience and attentiveness.  It got me wondering what are most important for me.  I'm still thinking.  What do you think?</p>

 

[AllyRae]

<p>Generosity, Integrety, Curiosity.</p>

 

[fuzzycat]

<p>Humor, kindness, respect, persistance (sorry more than 3)</p>

 

[Marcimama]

<p>Good question...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Honesty I think self-control, obedience and attentiveness are all the same thing... or they all stem out of the same quality that is self-control... you can't obey or be attentive with out self-control. It is important, but I think there are several other things that are just as important.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>For us it is:</p>
<p>loving (others and God), self-control, to love learning</p>
<p> </p>
<p>teachability/humility would be a close 4th for us</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[VeggieLovinMama]

<p>Really? "self-control, obedience and attentivenes"? Those are her top three? Wow. Self-control, okay sure. But obedience? I think limit testing. strong will, etc. are better qualities than obedience. Kids will be adulst some day you know! They need to know how to make wise decisions based on a strong value system -- not to just obey!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Anyway, mine would be</p>
<p>* freethinking</p>
<p>* strong values/standing up for what you believe in</p>
<p>* perserverence</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking" ~ Leo Tolstoy</p>

 

[sunpath8]

<p> </p>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:5px;padding-right:5px;padding-bottom:5px;padding-left:5px;font:normal normal normal 13px/1.231 arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-align:left;font-family:Times;line-height:normal;font-size:medium;">
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">I'm with Alley Rae - she nailed ours <img alt="smile.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com//images/smilies/smile.gif"></p>
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<br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>AllyRae</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1278822/what-are-the-three-most-important-character-qualities-you-teach-your-children#post_16039095"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Generosity, Integrety, Curiosity.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[*bejeweled*]

<p>Great question</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*To love God</p>
<p>*To love yourself</p>
<p>*To treat others kindly and stand up for yourself</p>

 

[grassisgreener1334]

<p>Interesting question!  I'll have to think for a moment...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>-Curiosity</p>
<p>-Emotional awareness</p>
<p>-Kindness towards oneself & others</p>

 

[SpottedFoxx]

<p>Self love and respect</p>
<p>Honesty</p>
<p>Integrity</p>
<p>and I'm also throwing in humor</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Edited to add - ohhhh curiosity too.  That's also incredibly important.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>How can you just say 3?</p>

 

[starling&diesel]

<p>Hmm ... so hard to choose just three!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Empathy (that's always been my top one)</p>
<p>Curiosity</p>
<p>Integrity</p>

 

[oaktreemama]

<p>Honesty</p>
<p>Empathy</p>
<p>The ability to laugh at himself</p>

 

[Bebe's Mom]

<p>Critical Thinking (think for herself, not just accept what she is told by others)</p>
<p>Empathy</p>
<p>Resourcefulness</p>
<p> </p>

 

[kriket]

<p>Be nice</p>
<p>Be curious</p>
<p>be true</p>
<p> </p>
<p>there are more, but if I had to choose three, those are the ones I would pick!</p>

 

[seasiren]

<p>Well lets see... at 12 months i think this is what comes up mostly</p>
<p> </p>
<p>helpful</p>
<p>playful</p>
<p>affectionate</p>

 

[EdnaMarie]

<p>Hm.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't do "character qualities" I suppose, because for me, who you are is what you do.  It comes down to love, I suppose.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Though, I guess the question is specific.  I think it depends on the child's temperament.  There are a lot of important character traits, and we have to encourage our kids to cultivate their natural talents and strengthen their weaknesses.  So they would be different.  For DD1, her natural talents lie in generosity, humor, and persistence.  These are awesome.  Her weaknesses are patience, attentiveness, and envy (she can be very envious and jealous) so I would want to work on those.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>DD2 is quite young, but I can already tell that patience doesn't run in our family... wonder why.  LOL.  She's very creative and curious but not very obedient.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What I'm trying to say is I don't like the way the question is framed.</p>

 

[red and lulu]

the first three that come to mind:<br>
empathy<br>
respect (for oneself and others)<br>
tenacity