Do you instruct your child to save up for what they want? Yes, we give gifts ...dolls, GI Joe action figures, and dogs. Do we consider the value of each, or do we just give what every child wants?

And what is the proper timing for all this?  What do we give our children, and at what age?

Not to alarm anyone, but I think a dog is more than just a wonderful companion.  Our first indoor dog was a gift.  I made my feelings clear in advance, "If we do get a dog ...we keep the dog." If the dog comes to our home, then it becomes a part of our home.  Her name was Meadowlark ...and we called her Lark, for short.  She was a short-haired collie, and a beautiful dog.  We thought the short hair would be less messy for an indoor dog ...and it wasn't easy finding this kind of dog, but when we did, she was less than a year old.  We were told that the pups were both taken by a family, that later decided they only wanted one dog, instead of two.  So, Lark was returned ...and we purchased her.

I later came to believe that she was abused by her first owner, and felt that the people who sold her to us were not quite honest.  But, that didn't matter so much ...it only endeared me more to her.  She needed much understanding, and I was prepared to give it to her ...especially since she started out, seemingly not liking men.

She began by wrecking, chewing, or somehow destroying everything of mine.  I let the dog get away with way more than I'd let the children get away with ...as I felt she had been abused, and had to learn first that I was her friend.  The children already know I love them ...and understand what they should and should not do. But, we start with children the same way.  We feed and care for a baby ...we clean a baby's diaper.  When they begin to crawl, they get into mischief ...and we by all means, should be patient with them.  When they begin to walk, and can reach higher ...we create slightly higher standards of expectation.

What about standards and expectations for adults?  Yes, just like dogs are a commitment ...that is much of a learning exercise for more significant commitments.  Having children is a wonderful commitment.  And being married is a lifelong commitment ...that not only affects both the man and woman who join in that sacred institution, but it has a tremendous impact upon the children born into, or adopted into the family.