Working Yourself out of a job!

When my children were still quite young, a trusted friend reflected to me, "The goal of every good parent is to work themselves out of a job."  Now that my first child has started college, I find myself contemplating her remark and trying to assess how successful I have been.

 My son can do his own laundry, but how often will he?  He is aware of what good nutrition is, but will he occasionally eat a vegetable?  He knows the value of a good nights sleep, but will he go to bed when he is tired and there is still plenty of activity going on?These are simple tasks, ones he has independently monitored for the last several years. I think he will do fine.

Now for the more important questions, the ones that determine character and impact his future:  Will he continue to practice integrity now that his dad and I are not there to hold him accountable?  Will he pursue excellence, even though we are no longer there to daily observe his effort?  Will he develop his faith, even when his peers choose to go another path?  These questions may not be definitevely answered for many more years, but as I think about them I feel more pride than concern.