Our children need first-rate teachers.  Teaching begins at home.  That's your first job as a parent next to loving God.  Loving God will help you to be that first-rate parent and teacher.

But your job doesn't stop at home.  You need to be aware of others that influence your children.  You need to seek out those individuals that have the qualities that you want your child to adopt.  That includes their friends as well as adults.  

What are those qualities and how do you find them?  One of the best places is at play.  When we play and are coached by a person with the qualities we respect and want our sons and daughters to adopt those odds increase tremendously.

Not every coach is all they should be.  Parents can have a great influence on a coach too.  The coach that sets winning, as their #1 priority is not the best coach.  The #1 priority is the proper development of their charges.  Look for teachers and coaches that are looking to the future.  Look for a coach that knows they are shaping the future of America.  

Our teachers and coaches need to love and treat every child with respect.  Hard work and camaraderie are great teachers.  The person that works in the cold and around an older generation and observes that they are missing teeth or aging too soon for their years realizes this is not what they want to do for the rest of their life.  They should still respect their fellow worker, but they need not accept that station in life.  This will put resolve in them to move up and on.  This sort of example can help youth realize the importance of getting a good education and that playing youthful games has greater meaning.  Physical hardships and workouts lead to social bonding.  The intricacies of game plays are much like figuring out what to do with your life.  

Look to your past and keep tradition alive.  Relationships, academics, jobs, families all require the same commitment, sacrifice, preparation, toughness and hard work.  Learning to make good choices about the people you surround yourself with and commit to sharing our own experiences with is the key to being a good example for children to follow.  

I really like the idea of the small town Kansas football team that has player trading cards.  Much like baseball cards elementary and grammar school children collect the player cards.  In return the players take an oath to not drink, smoke or do drugs.  If the player breaks the oath his card is removed from circulation and he visits the school to explain his actions and apologize.  This is known as "the walk of shame".  So far no member has walked the "plank".

I like the slogan "don't embarrass others and don't embarrass yourself".  Some parents have jokingly told their children "don't tell anyone that I'm your parent".  Well jokingly or not, that's not a good idea.  Be proud or your children.  Let them know it.