What is important to me?

Well Tricia this is for you. I don't remember a bigger challenge, it is not all flowery and flowing but then again neither am I. ;)
From the title of this post you wouldn't think that this would be a hard post to write but it is. It is hard to decide what is important to you and then decide what you want for your child. I have expectations of myself and my little family. Sometimes they coincide sometimes they don't. Usually both spouses are united on what they want and expect out of their children. Austin and I are not united on this. Yes on what we want the end result to be but not on how to get there.
This can be traced back to how we were both raised. We were raised totally different. That shows especially now that we are raising a child. I want Mason to be a well-rounded individual. One with strong morals and convictions. So here is my list of things that are important to me for Mason.
Faith- This is very important. Everyday I pray that Mason will know the Lord as I know the Lord. That someday if ever asked 'Do you believe?' that he will be able to say without doubt 'Yes, I do!'. This is probably where Austin and I differ the most. He would like to pick a church based on how long he has to 'sit there and try to stay awake'. I want one based on how much I get out of the sermon. I don't want one that reads right from the itinerary. That leaves me cold. I grew up in a wonderful church with a wonderful church family. I want that for my child. Which takes me to the next thing.
Family- I never want my child to feel unwelcome within the family. Reading that makes it feel even weirder. I have never felt unwelcome within my own family but I know Austin has in his so it is very important to us that Mason knows he never has to have an excuse. As it stands right now we don't go over to Austin's parents house without the proper invitation. There is no popping over or anything of that nature. My family, for lack of a better word, is intrusive. You never feel unloved. We have gone over this again and again my absolute best friends are my sisters. We talk everyday, more than once, usually. My brothers and I send dirty jokes back and forth via text messaging but it is still technically communicating. Never for one second have I doubted that they would give their live to save mine and they know it is true of me also. I have convinced Austin that he need to show more affection towards his son. It, believe it or not, took a lot of talking to do that. Austin's family does not hug. It is something that my family does whenever anyone says goodbye. I have so many memories of hugs that I couldn't pick a favorite of any of them. He thinks that man hugs are awkward. Well DUH, they are if they only happen at your wedding, funerals and the birth of your kids. The importance of family is so very important to me that he has jumped on board, so to say. We have agreed that if we, or our child, ever feel unwelcome somewhere that we will just leave. No excuses.
Compassion- I am not raising a bully. Period.
Gratefulness- Not to be confused with a sense of entitlement. We are not a bank and money does not grow on trees. I never want Mason to feel that he deserves something just because he is our child, or because of who he is or thinks he is. I worked for everything I had in high school and missed out on a lot so I don't think we will push it to that level but he is going to work. Nothing is free. On this Austin and I are on the same page. The over abundance his grandparents can give him is not because he deserves it or that he is entitled to it. It is because they love him and want to. Therefore he will be grateful for it or he will not get it.
Self-confidence- He will have to follow Austin on this one. I have self confidence but it is not as evident as in Austin. I know that what I do I do well and would not be afraid to put my photos or public speaking up against anyone but that is not readily seen. It isn't something I developed until after high school. I'm sure if I had the self-confidence that I have now when I was in high school it would have been a lot more fun.
Education- Formal and informal. Yes, I want him to go to college and get his degree, blah, blah, blah. I also want him to have an informal education. I want him to understand how the world actually works. Truth be told I am still trying to teach Austin this. He lives in black and white. I know that black and white exist but I can usually be found in the gray. I like the gray;)
I am sure Austin's list would be totally different but that is because he thinks what he had growing up should be good enough for our kid. I don't agree. I think all kids deserve better than the cold upbringing he received. 'A home is nothing without hugs and love, a heart is empty without a home.' I want my son to grow up in a warm, loving, forgiving environment.