Maybe This Should Be My Motto

So you guys have heard about Randy Pausch, right? He's the Carnegie Mellon professor and father of three small children who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and only given a short time to live. He was asked to give a "last lecture", which you can watch at the above link, and I guarantee you there is no way you won't shed a tear and be touched.

Something he said really spoke to me, and I hope that I can raise my children like this:

As a professor, I’ve seen how disruptive it can be for parents to have specific dreams for their children. My job is to help my kids foster a joy for life and develop the tools to fulfill their own wishes. My wishes for them are very exact and, given that I won’t be there, I want to be clear: Kids, don’t try to figure out what I wanted you to become. I want you to become what you want to become. And I want you to feel as if I am there with you, whatever path you choose.

Parade Magazine, April 6 2008, page 7