Risks and Probabilities

I've decided that the big stuff in parenthood is all about risks and probabilities. May be a 'duh-REALLY?' comment to some readers, but again, since I keep this blog for Deven & #2 as much as for any other readers, let me explain:

Parents (or at least the vast majority, and certainly including us) have an inherent goal to decrease the risks of (not), and increase the probabilities that, their children will be happy. The definition of happiness, naturally, is as varied as the parents themselves - but to use examples from our lives:

- We feed Deven, and ourselves, organic / natural / whole foods whenever possible. Not just because we have San Francisco values (see prior post for definition), but because the information we've read leads us to believe it's healthier for Deven to eat this way.
In our book, physical health is a component of happiness, and we have thereby reduced his risk of unhappiness. There are lots of other decisions, small and large, that we hope will reduce his risk of unhappiness due to physical ailments.

- We take, and plan to take, vacations to interesting places, like Hawaii where we are now, and we don't just stay in fancy hotels. Not just because we have the money to get to interesting places, but not stay in fancy hotels - but because we believe that Deven will benefit. Short term, he likely won't remember this vacation - but maybe he won't be as afraid of the water in the future as he was yesterday. Long-term, we believe that experiencing interesting places will teach Deven & #2 about different cultures and ways of life, in a way books/tv/school never could.
In our book, education is a component of happiness, and we have thereby increased the probability that Deven & #2 will be happy. Satisfied? Perhaps not (and that's ok in my book b/c it'll make them want to work to change things they don't like) - but happy. Again, there are lots of other decisions we will take, that we expect will increase the probability that Deven & #2 will be happy.

- We are already teaching Deven different aspects of his multicultural little 23-pound self. He hears (and knows) Hindi daily from his Daadi and Dad. He has a Tibetan nanny (who speaks in Hindi to him as well), eats Indian food, and celebrates festivals from both 'sides'. I'm determined to ensure that he knows, and feels secure with, his "Indian-ness" in addition to his "American-ness" (interestingly, I don't think I know enough about my Austrian-English-Scottish heritage to provide much of a education about those cultures). Despite those who might think that his being "part-brown" is a bad thing, I'm willing to bet it isn't.
In our book, self-awareness, understanding, and acceptance of who one is, increases the probability of happiness.

Other parents might add to this, a laundry list of things they do, such as going to Church together, enrolling their little one in classes, living their entire lives to support the health and well-being of their kids. We may well do a lot of that too, as our kids grow.

In the end, it's all about decreasing the risks, and increasing the probabilities of our kids' happiness.

Side Note
We're in Hawaii right now (side note: Our main camera finally broke; so photos from the cheap old-fashioned Walgreens' waterproof camera coming after we return and process the film).