On Sunday, Edwin said his first word (besides Mama and Dada). It was “cup!” Under the watchful eyes of his parents and grandparents, Edwin played with his cup of milk and progressively worked toward the word:

“Cuuhhhh…”

“Cuuu-PAH!”

“CUP!”

It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. My son is talking. My son said his first word, the first of millions of words he’ll say over his lifetime.

“Cup,” of course, isn’t a very meaningful word in itself. But there are other words that I pray he learns to say thousands and thousands of times over the course of his lifetime.

1. Love. I pray he says “I love you,” to all the special people in his life; may he never miss an opportunity to do so. May he give his love to Mommy and Daddy, to grandparents, to aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, to family pets. Someday, may he share a special love with a partner who will stand beside him throughout his adult life.

2. Believe. I hope my son believes in things with his whole heart. When he’s younger, may he believe in Santa Claus and fairies and action figures coming to life while he sleeps. When he’s older, may he believe in himself, in God, in his country, in his fellow man. I pray he has firm conviction in his beliefs.

3. Truth. May he seek the truth, tell the truth, and hear the truth from others.

4. Share. When he is young, may he share toys, books, and friends. May he share stories and jokes and laughter. When he is older, may he share joy, commitment, creativity. May he always share his light with the world.

5. Trust. May he earn the trust of others, and put faith in the trust of those he considers worthy.

6. Learn. May he have a thirst for knowledge and for understanding that will never be quenched.

7. Grow. I pray he grows strong and healthy. May he grow to find a purpose in life. May he grow from his mistakes.

8. Read. May he love reading as much as I do. May he use reading to explore his passions, to understand other cultures, and to expand his mind into alternate universes.

9. Music. May he love music as much as my husband and I do. May he feel music in his very bones, and learn to create it for others to hear.

10. Laugh. Above all, may my son always find reasons to laugh. May he experience joy at every opportunity. May our family lives be as full of laughter as they can be. (If he is anything like my husband, this one will be easy.)

What words do you wish to define your children’s lives? What words define your own lives? Leave a comment listing your words.