One of the things that I do with my kids is what I call "Existing." We don't have anything planned and just go with the flow and see where our time takes us. We go outside, meditate, play, explore, hike or whatever muse strikes us. Sometimes it means sitting inside and listening to music or watching a movie, but I am there with them in the moment to teach, listen, learn and guide them in real time. I am the disciplinarian of the family so this helps when corrective action is needed; I build respect based on face time with them that I can use to illicit immediate responses to my corrective words or actions. It is amazing the difference in how I am heeded by them being the "bad guy" versus my wife who is the "good guy." I invest in them so that they invest in me and see me as the strong patriarch architype. I lo e my family with every fiber of my body and I am going to teach them how to be the best people they can be mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I see a lot of kids these days that can't speak properly, conduct themselves properly or know how to react properly to situations. My children will be the exception to this rule. I strive to make them better than myself and give them opportunity I can, and teach them how to be benevolent, fair and informed members of society. Thanks for this amazing post @cryptoctopus, it really got me thinking!