Old Money and The Children’s Checklist

I’ve been asked on several occasions to comment on the subject of raising children. We’ve addressed it on this blog in a couple of posts and it’s covered in The Old Money Guide To Marriage to some extent.

However, I don’t think too much can be said about the challenges of raising children and how to best address those challenges. Being a big advocate of brevity, I’ve decided to include The Children’s Checklist below.

The idea behind the list is that, by a certain age, children should be able to check off the following experiences, abilities, and experiences as being in their arsenal of tools with which to go forth into the world. While by no means comprehensive, they should greatly help children become adults. They should help them make the most of this life and best shoulder the legacy you bestow upon them.

Without further commentary, they are:

1. They should have had the experience and be secure in the knowledge that they are wanted and that they are loved.
2. They should have been given the very best eduction you could provide, which includes not only classroom curriculum, but travel, work, and involvement with their community.
3. They should have been exposed to a set of values, most often by watching your sterling example, and be able to articulate these values in general terms and apply them in specific circumstances consistently in their daily lives.
4. They should frequently express gratitude for their position, their opportunities, and their freedom.
5. They should have a proficiency in speaking a second language.
6. They should have a proficiency at playing a musical instrument.
7. They should understand the importance of dressing appropriately.
8. They should have manners.
9. They should be financially literate, ethical in their practices, and vigilant in their attention to their family’s legacy.
10. They should consider themselves temporary stewards, not sole benefactors, of your legacy, both the legacy of money and the legacy of values, and pass them on in good, improved health to the next generation.

If they get these “Ten Commandments”, your children will have a good chance of fulfilling their potential, and making you proud, regardless of what they choose to do in life.

• BGT