I don't want to be remembered by my family for having a perfectly clean house (like THAT would ever happen) or for all the things I did out of obligation or whatever. I want my boys to remember things like, "My mom was so cool doing her first tri; I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I didn't know she could BIKE SO FAST! Did you see her pass that BUFF GUY?"; "My Mom goes to all my games and concerts and stuff and cheers for me. It's kind of embarassing, but she does it anyway", or "My Mom always spent time doing stuff with us. Remember the time we...?" THAT'S what I want them to remember (these are actual quotes, BTW, from my TEENAGE BOYS!!)
YEAH, BABY!

My dad is 73 this year, and we still go camping and canoing together with my kids, who are now grown and grew up doing it. They have great memories of my dad from when they were children (as do I--see my avatar), and they have great memories of him as adults. I want to be like that for my grandchildren, too.

He has his moments that we all groan about, but they're outnumbered by the happy ones. My mom, on the other hand, causes more groans than joy, and then wonders why we don't want to go see her?

Who would I much rather be like? My dad, of course.

Karen