There is a group of men who have been producing the fathering column for the CDT for the past 10 years. We write with the assumption, and we have expressed this several times throughout the years, that we do not consider ourselves “Dadologists.” We are just regular guys who think that our role as fathers, as is true with motherhood, is important and worthy of thought and discussion. We regularly make parenting mistakes. We try to learn from these mistakes, each other, our wives, our friends and our children. We continue to use these articles to grow personally and hopefully encourage conversation so we can all learn from each other.

The following is a piece I drafted originally right after my daughter, Erika, was born. This piece was also revisited when my son, Luke, was born, and at other times along the way. For some time, it has been tucked away in a drawer. I found it again when we recently moved. My daughter just completed her junior year at State College Area High School and my son finished his freshman year.

This piece was written jointly with my wife, Cheryl. We know we don't have all the answers. We really just try to do our best. It was a discussion point for us as we tried to see the world through "the eyes of our child."

What did our child need from us as parents? We are glad we did the process and sincerely hope that you consider doing some version of this exercise, no matter the stage you are in as parents. One family shared with me their written "family principles." Writing down your own ideas gives you a forum for value discussions that may not otherwise take place. I hope sometime to hear you say "we are also glad we did."

Since initially writing this, the guys in the Fathering Initiative and I have had some feedback from various people who really liked the concept, and wondered if there was a way to share this with new parents, or with parents about to once again embark on having a child. So we looked at this piece yet another time last year, and working jointly with Smart Start Centre County, and Connie Schulz from the State College Area School District, revised it further to put it into a slightly different form, with pictures and graphics, which will soon be included in packets for parents of newborns at Mount Nittany Medical Center. We hope folks find it useful and thought provoking. The original letter is below:

Dear Mom and Dad, I have been lying around my crib for almost three weeks now and I am anxious to begin living life to its fullest. I am anticipating many wondrous and wonderful times through the course of my life for all of us.

You have brought me into this world and have assumed the enormous responsibility of caring for me. In addition to providing me with the basic needs, I expect you to be my mentors and to teach me how life is to be lived. This really is the essence of parenting. Please live these ideas and work together to be the parents I need you to be. Schools will help, but I need your individual care.

Act as if I will copy everything you do, because I probably will. Recognize that as I grow my perceptions will change, but I will still be watching.

Permit me and encourage me to take chances as long as they will not cause me serious harm. I know it will be tough to watch me fail at times, but you must because you truly love me. The cornerstone of self confidence is competence.

Show me how to respect myself and others. Show me the magic in serving my neighbors and my community; at the same time teach me also to be good to myself.

Help me to find true enjoyment in learning. This may be harder as I mature. Remember — your excitement about learning is contagious.

Teach me how to care for my mind by encouraging reading and creative thought. Discourage excess television and other mind-numbing activities. Help me to savor the wonder of nature and encourage me to immerse myself in it in as many ways as I can.

Teach me how to respect and take good care of my body through good nutritional habits, exercise and sufficient rest.

Teach me how to nourish and develop my soul by reflecting, praying and constantly expanding my spirit and relationship with God.

Assist me in giving authority its proper respect without relinquishing my own ideals. Teach me to question and draw my own conclusions.

Allow and encourage me to take responsibility for my actions as I grow older. was born, and at other times along the way. For some time, it has been tucked in a drawer. I found it again when we recently moved. My daughter just completed her junior year at State College Area High School and my son finished his freshman year.

This piece was written jointly with my wife, Cheryl. We know we don’t have all the answers. We really just try to do our best. It was a discussion point for us as we tried to see the world through “the eyes of our child.” What did our child need from us as parents? We are glad we did the process and sincerely hope that you consider doing some version of this exercise, no matter the stage you are in as parents. One family shared with me their written “family principles.” Writing down your own ideas gives you a forum for value discussions that may not otherwise take place. I

Remember that your interventions in my failures may have an adverse impact. I need to find inner strength because you cannot and will not always be there to help.

Teach me to live and experience each day. Memories should be enjoyed and plans made, but remember, today is what I am living with you.

Help me adopt a philosophy of perpetual growth. Remember it is critically important to be happy with who I am today, at every point in life.

Teach me the value of hard work. Show me that completion is important, especially when the challenge is difficult. At the same time, make sure we have time along the way to relax and do nothing in particular.

Show me how to separate my needs from my wants. Teach me specifics about money so I can eventually plan for my own family.

As I grow, help me to learn what is needed to run and maintain a home. Teach me to drive safely and how to maintain a car.

Show me that honesty is non-negotiable.

Display your appreciation, each day, of the wonderful life that has been given to us as a gift. Help me to approach life with laughter and zest by finding good in everything and everyone.

Give me the irreplaceable gift of your time so I can learn these lessons well. If you are not there to teach me, the learning is more difficult and may never take place.

At the same time, Mom and Dad, take time to enjoy me, yourselves and each other. You need to keep growing too, so you can continue to assist in my growth. Your love toward, and enjoyment of, each other is also a model for me.

If you forget any of the items above, here is a simple guide that will get you through: Make sure I know that you love me and that you always will, no matter what. At the same time, make sure that I know that you are in control. Don’t worry that I will think you don’t love me if you discipline me. I will not confuse love and discipline, so long as the discipline is fair, consistent and appropriate. Remember discipline should eventually turn into self-discipline. This is our goal.

Now, I have made my expectations known. I know you won’t let me down.

With all my love,

Erika Grace