Teach Your Children Well

"You who are on the road Must have a code that you can live by And so become yourself Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well, Their father's hell did slowly go by, And feed them on your dreams The one they picks, the one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry, So just look at them and sigh and know they love you..." -Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Tonight I had my senior spotlight at Chi O. It is a special time when your parents write a letter to the chapter and it's read aloud during meeting. It contains funny stories about me when I was a kid, but most importantly words of wisdom from your parents. My family thought it would be funny to each give me a little something, so I thought that I would share with y'all what they shared with me.

• Dad: It is soon time to leave the University of Iowa and head off into the real world. The world is ready to call your bluff. We have a few additional thoughts to make you successful in the future. Focus on your blessings, there are nearly six billion other people in the world that would love to have what you have. Give thanks. Be generous. Take responsibility for your life and your future. It is up to you and you have to tools to do it. Choose your battles wisely. Some things are worth the fight, while there are other things with which you just need to deal. Embrace change. You are entering the world at a time when the pace of change is only going to increase. Be honorable, how you do things is as important as what you do. Be the first to raise your hand to take responsibility or to help. Under promise and over deliver. Don't quit. Enjoy Your Life, it goes oh so quickly. Every phase and every age is a wonder...just ask your grandparents. One last thing, stay connected and stay in touch with your friends, especially your sisters.
• Mom: (this is the shortened version...she wrote a really long letter telling all of the embarrassing stories) There is no place like home. Things are just things. A pen from Target works just as well as a pen from Tiffany's. It's what's on the inside that counts.
• Sarah: Respect your elders (especially me).
• Tristan: Plan ahead so you don't go hungry.
• Chris: Vote Republican.
• Matt: Tuition - $6000, Rent - $420, Spending money - $150, Jenny graduating from college in less than 5 years - Priceless

I love my family! I am the luckiest girl in the world.

(Pictured above: The Larson Fam (Kids=Moo, Dad, Sarah, Chris, Me and Matty), Papa Cool (*yes, that's really his last name), Sarah and her hubby Tristan, and the Larson cousins when we were little (I'm the one on the far right)