As parents it’s our responsibility to teach, guide and encourage our kids. If we do our job right they go on to become responsible contributing members of society.

作为家长，教育、引导和鼓励子女是我们的责任。如果我们尽职尽责，孩子们就会成长为对社会负责为社会做贡献的人。

No pressure…right?

这不是什么压力，对吧？

Teaching practical life skills and philosophies are important parts of developing our children into well rounded and happy adults. The time we have with our kids is precious and relatively short.

教授实际生活技巧和哲学是将孩子培养成全能且快乐的成人的重要部分。我们和孩子们共度的时光宝贵而短暂。

With that in mind, I would like to share with you a list of 40 things that I will teach my kids before they leave home. Some are serious while some are lighthearted, since I think an important part of forming a meaningful relationship with our kids is to have a little fun along the way.

记住了这一条，我想和大家分享我的孩子离家前，我会教他们的40件事。有些很严肃，有些很轻松，因为我觉得与孩子建立有意义的关系的重要部分在于过程中充满点滴乐趣。

Practical life skills

实际生活技巧

I will teach my kids:

我会教给孩子：

…that doing a proper grocery shop, including meal planning, shopping with a list and comparing prices, can save them a considerable amount of time and money.

合理购物，包括计划餐食、带着清单购物，货比三家，这可以为他们节省不少时间和金钱。

…there is more to cooking and baking than simply opening a can or reheating a meal.

烹饪烘焙可比开罐头或者热剩饭意义大得多。

…that it’s important to sort your laundry not only by color, but by fabric type and care instructions.

洗衣服时不仅按颜色分类，也按织物种类和保养指南分类，这很重要。

…that no matter what the fashion is at the time, when it comes to an interview, work or special occasions — grab an iron. Walking around all wrinkled and creased sends a message of laziness.

不论潮流如何，面试、工作或者特殊场合——找把熨斗。穿着皱皱巴巴的衣服，说明你很懒。

…how to grow and care for a plant. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive way to instill responsibility. I’d start with an easy to care for houseplant like an umbrella tree or amaryllis or a potted tomato plant out on the deck.

如何种植照料植物。这种灌输责任感的方法简单而又便宜。我会从易于照顾的盆栽如伞树或桂顶红或盆栽番茄开始。

…how to change a car tire so that when they get a flat they are less likely to be stranded on the side of the road not knowing what to do.

如何换汽车轮胎，这样当有只瘪胎时，他们就不会束手无策地站在路边。

…to drive responsibly and to be acutely aware of the consequences of drinking and driving, even if they are the passenger.

开车时负有责任心，要很了解酒后驾驶的后果，哪怕仅仅作为一名乘客。

…that they can save money on books if they frequent the library.

如果他们经常去图书馆，就可以省下买书钱。

…how to do standard maintenance on their cars like change the oil and various filters as well as top up fluids and replace light bulbs.

如何维修汽车，比如换滑油和各种过滤器，如何加油加水，更换灯泡。

…how to read a bus schedule so if they aren’t in a position to afford a car they can still get around with public transportation.

如何读懂公交站牌，这样，如果他们买不起车，也一样可以利用公共交通工具四处行走。

…that they can have a lot more fun if they build things from scratch. I’m thinking birdhouses, step stools, go-karts, kites and paper planes.

如果他们从头开始自己做东西，就会享受很多乐趣。我能想到的有鸟屋、梯櫈、小型赛车、风筝和纸飞机。

…how to tie a variety of knots so whether they are tying up a boat or pulling a car out of a ditch or snowbank they are better armed.

如何打各种各样的结，这样当他们想把船系牢或者把车拉出沟渠或雪堤时，就会有备无患。

…how to barbecue a perfect meal paying particular attention to pre-grill prep and special recipes.

如何作出美味的烧烤，要格外留心烧烤前准备以及特殊烹饪秘诀。

…the importance of reading food labels. Not only to become aware of individual ingredients but to also know the quantities of sugar, additives and types of fats they contain.

阅读食品标签的重要性。不仅要理解各种成分，还要了解食品中所包含的糖、添加剂和各种脂肪。

…how to hem pants, sew on buttons and mend socks.

怎么给裤子锁边、缝扣子、补袜子。

…how to type properly with both hands on the keyboard. In a society where computers are used for nearly everything, learning how to type properly will increase their efficiency and productivity.

如何两只手打字。在这个计算机无处不在的社会，学习正确打字可以提高效率和生产率。

…the concept of compound interest. Who doesn’t want to make interest on interest?

复利的概念。谁不想用复利赚钱啊？

…how to create an effective budget that allows them to live within their means and continually increase their net worth.

如何计划有效的预算，既能保证生活，又能使净资产持续增加。

…how to read a map and use a compass.

怎么看地图，怎么使用指南针。

…how to build a quinzee and survive a night in the cold. (A quinzee is basically a hollowed out mound of snow and are actually quite warm to sleep in! This was one of my favorite experiences as a kid.)

如何修建雪穴以抵御寒冷的夜晚。（雪穴其实就是一个挖空的雪堆，睡进去很暖和！这是我孩提时最喜欢的经历。）

…how to swim and tread water, these skills could potentially save their life.

怎么游泳，怎么趟水，这些技能可能会救他们的命。

Philosophical life lessons

哲学生活课

I will teach my kids:

我会教给孩子：

…that they can be happy if they choose to be happy.

如果他们选择开心，他们就能开心。

…that a smile is the simplest thing you can do to truly brighten the day of someone else.

微笑是你能够让别人拥有美好一天的最简单的方法。

…about compassion and how they can go beyond empathy by truly understanding and feeling other people’s pain and suffering. Once they have this understanding and a genuine desire to relieve other’s pain it will make them better people.

同情以及通过真正理解感受他人的苦难，如何超越感同身受。一旦他们有这样的理解，而且真诚地愿意帮助别人减轻痛苦，他们就会成为更好的人。

…that there is no such thing as being too polite. You can never say please, thank-you or excuse me too often.

压根没有“太礼貌”这回事。“请”、 “谢谢”和“对不起”永远不嫌多。

…how listening without judgement, criticism or offering solutions to problems, is a guaranteed way to show someone you care.

不评判、批评或提供问题解决方案，纯粹聆听，是告诉某人你关心他的万无一失的方法。

…that respect goes beyond being kind to their elders – it also includes property, people in general, animals and even themselves.

尊重不仅仅是善待长辈-也包括爱惜东西，善待众人，爱护动物，甚至包括自己。

…to focus on enjoying what they already have instead of wasting time focusing on what they don’t have.

专注于享受已经拥有的东西，而不是浪费时间关注自己没有的东西。

…that NOBODY knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING.

没有人知道所有事情的所有细节。

…that it’s okay to be wrong as that’s how we learn.

错了没关系，因为那是我们学习的方式。

…to pursue things that are right for them as opposed to blindly following what society says they should do. The road less traveled usually brings the greatest rewards.

追求适合他们的东西，而不要盲从社会认为他们应该做的。人迹罕至的路通常收获最大。

…that nobody will care as much about their money as they will, so they should choose their investments and financial advisers wisely.

没人会像自己那样在乎自己的钱，所以要明智地选择自己的投资和财务顾问。

…that people usually do the best they can with the information and knowledge they have at the time.

人们通常用他们手头所有的信息和知识尽可能做到最好。

…that if something looks too good to be true it likely is.

如果有东西好得难以置信，很可能那东西就是不可信。

…that the more they become attached to a thought or idea in the future, the greater their disappointment (suffering) will be when it doesn’t play out as planned.

如果他们纠结于某个想法或观点，当计划落空时，他们的失望（痛苦）就越大。

…that friends may come and go but family will always be by their side. Always.

朋友来来去去，而家人总会守在他们身旁。一直如此。

…that they will get more than they ever could have imagined simply by being kind and generous to those less fortunate.

慷慨善待那些不幸的人，他们将从中得到的远比他们能够想象的要多。

…that life is short and that they should make the most of each and everyday. They should do things that make them smile, that make them feel alive and energized. Live.

人生苦短，他们应该尽量利用每一天。他们应该做让自己开心、让自己充满生机，充满能量的事情。及时行乐。

…to remember that life is more about enjoying the journey than simply reaching the destination.

记住人生更多的是享受这个旅程，而不仅仅是到达目的地。

There are so many things I want to teach my kids and this list grows with each passing day. I want the best for my kids, as any parent does. I occasionally need to remind myself that they are their own little people on their own journeys in life.

我想教给孩子们的东西那么多，这份清单的长度与日俱增。和任何家长一样，我也望子成龙。偶尔我需要提醒自己，他们是独立的小人儿，走在自己的人生旅途上。

How I see my role as a parent — I’m here to guide them, teach them and make sure they are well equipped with the skills, knowledge and common sense to survive and thrive on their own once they leave home. Time will tell if I’ve done my job well.

我怎么看待家长这个角色—我在这里引导他们，教导他们，确保他们有足够的技巧、知识和常识，一旦他们离开家，也能独自生存，并且茁壮成长。时间会证明我这家长是否合格。

What do you plan on teaching your kids? What is the best life lesson you’ve been taught?

你准备怎么教你的孩子? 你学到的最好的人生功课是什么？