1.) Self-determination- I really like the way Ikoro put it.
I want them to realize that they can be whatever/whoever THEY choose to be. I don't want them to place any self-imposed barriers to them reaching their potential. I want them to have the strenght to overcome any man made or society imposed barriers to their potential or self-determination.
2.) I think self-determination is now available to them, but I fear we are going backwards to times when liberty and freedoms will be restricted.
3.) I teach them to be independent of this worldly system. To be in the world, but not of the world. To have survival skills that they can sustain themselves should hard times or an economic collaspe occur. I teach them to hunt, fish, to be protectors of our home and theirs as they become adults.
I was talking with my teenage son yesterday about racism and the "glass ceiling".
4) While self-determination allows them the freedom to accept or reject my belief system, I want them to accept it and embrace it for themselves. As a Christian, doing so comes with a certain amount of pursecution as witnessed in this very forum. So, the external obstacles for my children would be christian persecution, racial prejudice and lets not forget HATERS of all stripes. Internal obstacles would be self motivation, drive, work ethic, and tenacity (among many other potential self imposed show stoppers)