Have you ever run into a parent of young children in the wild? You can pick out these individuals at the grocery store, the bank, or the sidelines of the soccer field because they have a glazed look on their faces as though someone just woke them up and reminded them they had somewhere to be. Perhaps there are stains at various places on their otherwise attractive outfits. Or maybe they're in what appears to be pajamas. Most parents of young children are just trying to survive. And when you're in survival mode, it's hard to think about the future. However, the point of raising children is not the experience of having children (though of course that can be wonderful) but rather shepherding your children into an adulthood in which they are genuinely good human beings. But this takes the ability to parent for the long haul, making difficult decisions in the moment for the hoped-for reward of adults you enjoy being around. While there are no guarantees, some c...