The concept of a bucket list has been floating around for a while now, and it got me thinking—what would make it onto my own Parental Bucket List? Let’s skip the usual goals like raising successful adults or teaching basic life skills (like how to button their pants), and focus on the more nuanced, yet equally important, milestones I’d love my kiddos to hit before they spread their wings… assuming they ever leave the nest!
- Dress themselves… without emerging looking like a tornado hit their closet.
- Remember their backpack and lunch when they head off to school.
- Avoid using their clothes as napkins during meal times.
- Master the art of proper wiping after bathroom visits.
- Play nicely with each other without my constant mediation.
- Take a shower and actually rinse out all the shampoo and conditioner from their hair.
- Exit school with everything I packed for them that morning, not just their shoes.
- Complete their homework independently, without my nagging reminders.
- Put their winter gear away neatly when they come in from the snow—no more piles on the floor!
- Learn to lift the toilet seat—it’s a game changer!
- Tidy up their rooms before I reach my breaking point.
- Respond to “How was school?” with anything other than “Fine” or “It sucks.”
- Go to bed and actually stay there all night, not playing musical beds.
- Brush their teeth twice a day without me having to remind them or endure a meltdown.
- Avoid tracking dirt through the house after using the bathroom.
- Put dirty laundry in the basket—or even better, in the laundry room!
- Refrain from declaring “I’m bored” every five minutes.
- Not toss their tissues or socks on the floor willy-nilly.
- Put away their laundry without needing a personal assistant, and for heaven’s sake, not all in one drawer!
- Wash and put away dishes—at this point, I’d settle for them just making it to the sink. If I’m being really ambitious, maybe even the dishwasher!
I guess this list is a blend of wishful thinking and optimistic dreaming. If people can have on their bucket lists grand adventures like visiting the Seven Wonders of the World, surely I can dream of a child who puts the cap back on the toothpaste, right?
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Summary
This whimsical take on a parental bucket list outlines 20 everyday achievements I hope to see in my children before they venture out on their own. These goals range from mastering self-care to being responsible for their belongings, all in the hopes of nurturing independent, capable individuals.