Prayed a gift for each child, from the womb.<\/span> This was on the order of “love,” health,” wisdom,” etc. I wanted to see if there would be a unique manifestation of that in each child. And so I did.<\/p>\n Meals together.<\/span> I might not have even mentioned this but I understand it’s becoming more rare. It’s then that we have our conversations, hear each’s “good news,” impart\u00a0values, keep friendship alive.<\/p>\n A day of fasting and prayer for each, by Dad.<\/span> This is something they never knew about and I’d forgotten until putting together this list. \u00a0But children need help, it’s rough world. \u00a0Prayed for their future spouses too, and their parents, also needing help.<\/p>\n Media governed. <\/span>Allison, our eldest, has bragged she was raised without TV. \u2028 It’s usually in the context of someone remarking on her incredible creativity and talent. The lack of TV didn’t hurt, more like the other way around.<\/p>\n Traded TV time for reading time.<\/span> As the family grew there was an appeal to be current so I compromised: reading for watching. They rose to it, even making it a game, keeping track on a chart.<\/p>\n Paid a wage for reading books of my choice.<\/span>\u00a0These were books on their level, but perhaps wouldn’t have been thought of. They were always helpful. And for a brief book report they could earn dollars.<\/p>\n Served their first communion.<\/span>\u00a0The kids see adults doing this in church, but do they know what it’s all about? \u00a0At an age I thought each was\u00a0ready we took a walk. I brought the elements. We talked. It was a meaningful time.<\/p>\n Father and child road trips.<\/span>\u00a0This was in additional to family travels, of which there were many. The one-on-one experience, when it would happen, was always special for both of us.<\/p>\n Purposeful conversations in the car\u00a0. . . any topic.<\/span>\u00a0This was more than the random passing time stuff, rather an invitation\u00a0for them to bring up whatever topic they might not otherwise, in an unjudgemental atmosphere. Though they were young, it was talk at\u00a0adult level.<\/p>\n The “My son” passages in Proverbs<\/em>.<\/span> There are a lot of these all though that book, and Proverbs<\/em> is still the best resource\u00a0for training a child . . . of any age. Once Hyatt Jr. and I rode motorcycles up through California and discussed these, one at a time, at stops and overnights.<\/p>\n International trips, just with Dad.<\/span> This came to be something of a “rite of passage” for each. As I was traveling a lot in those days, at their 12th year each accompanied me on some weeks long grand adventure. Allison: Cameroon. Cambria: Guatemala. Hyatt: England and Germany. Acacia: Kenya, Congo, Sudan. Tamara: Colombia. Great\u00a0memories, just between us.<\/p>\n Saturday Night Bible Study.<\/span>\u00a0While he was in high school I encouraged young Hyatt to read the Bible straight through. I said not to get bogged down at the parts he didn’t understand but to make a note of them. Then on Saturday nights, if he wasn’t going anywhere, we’d have our own time, discussing the harder questions. I didn’t always have the answers, but it was good for both of us.<\/p>\n Dates.<\/span> These were usually lunches, anticipated a week or so in advance to build anticipation. One time, with little Acacia, I asked her what was the best thing going on in her life right then. She just beamed and said, “This!”<\/p>\n Attendance at all events.<\/span> This would be all sporting events, all music events, whatever, because parents should be prime fans. We never enrolled in sports, however, that would rob us of Sunday mornings.<\/p>\n Church.<\/span> This is something we did, you might say “religiously” (except I don’t like that word). It’s the right habit for a multitude of reasons. I’ll confess there were\u00a0times when I myself did not want to go; but I did anyway for the children’s sake. (As parents, we’re always watched.)<\/p>\n Dedicated each one to the Lord, as infants.<\/span> This is Christian tradition, a promise of the parents, and a spiritual covering of the child from the beginning. We did it for each of our children, and now, as grandparents, we’ve done so, in our own family ceremonies, for each of the grandchildren . . . all sixteen.<\/p>\n Honor their mother.<\/span> Anne and I, early in our marriage, made a pact to never disparage the other in public. We also agreed to not discuss our child raising differences in front of them. There were times we disagreed, of course, but we did it in private, upholding\u00a0each other’s authority. Worked well; we had no favorites and neither did they.<\/p>\n![\"1-Christmas-Dana-Point-650\"](\"http:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/blank-slate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1-Christmas-Dana-Point-650.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHere we were, left to right, Allison, Hyatt iv, Anne, Cambria, Acacia, Dad.<\/em><\/h6>\n