Self-respect, strong family ties, and a sense of humor are the foremost qualities my child will have. Even though there are many more qualities I would want my child to posses, these qualities are the most important to me.
             Why do I choose self-respect? As someone once said, "Not respecting yourself is the same as committing suicide at a slow rate." Self-respect is important for a child to have because without self-respect they will feel lost in the world and not have a sense of worth. This confidence lets them be who they want to be, allowing them to have no limits in life and no boundaries; the sky is the limit. From reading Joan Didion's essay "On Self-Respect," my child will get a good sense of what self-respect is, and not confuse it with being good looking, smart, athletic, etc. By respecting who they are, they will be able to love themselves and prevail over any obstacles no matter how difficult they may seem. Furthermore they will also grow to love every part of themselves as Alice Walker did in her essay, "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self." In addition, from self-respect comes respect for other individuals. They will respect who the individual is no matter how different he or she may seem and not be so quick to judge. My child will treat every person the same way they would want to be treated, especially family members.
             They will treat every family member with respect, which, in affect, draws them closer to the family. Having strong family ties is a quality that is also very important because without family you have nothing. Your family is your best friend who will always be there to love and support you, in good times or bad. It is my belief that family is first priority, and if that relationship is not right, then nothing will ever seem right. Looking back at my life I realize that my family had always been there for me, whether it was a birthday, having surg...