It is not what you leave to your children that matters, but what you leave in them.
Shannon L. Alder
MEANING OF THIS QUOTE
Man is probably unique in the sense that he cares not just for the present of his offspring, but also its future. Parents work hard day and night for several years so their children can inherit a handsome amount and lead their lives in luxury. However, in their endeavor to ensure a secure lifestyle for their kids, they often overlook the importance of honing their character. The result is a spineless next generation that has no regard or appreciation for anything in life, least of all for the inheritance they received.
WHY DOES CHARACTER MATTER?
Because it is the foundation stone of a meaningful life. You can bequeath every treasure in the world to your child, but they will probably squander it all away if they do not have the disposition to uphold and safeguard it. On the other hand, someone with a robust character can not only preserve their parents’ legacy, but also build upon it.
DO INHERITANCES NOT MATTER?
Let’s just say that parents should prioritize inculcating a strong sense of responsibility in their young ones. Whether or not they leave anything for their children is immaterial, for a strong-willed person doesn’t need to depend on their parents’ estate, anyway. On the other hand, a week-kneed individual would probably lose it all in the long run. Considering these arguments, it is safe to say that an ounce of character should rank above millions of dollars worth of estate in parents’ priority list.
CONCLUSION
In an era where more and more couples fritter their lives away in tiny cubicles to “secure their kids’ future”, while the children grow up at home with a babysitter. Deprived of their parents’ time and attention, such kids do not grow up to be particularly sensitive individuals themselves. They prioritize money over relations, estates over personality, and future over present.
While work and other financial commitments are important, parents should make it a point to spend a few minutes, if not hours, every day with their children. Through their conduct, they should impart strong moral values to their kids, for that will be the biggest inheritance that they can leave behind. Shannon Alder is a well-known author. A vocal advocate of proactive parenting, Alder is known to have written: “It is not what you leave to your children that matters, but what you leave in them.”