Lately I’ve been talking about making the world a better place for my kid. While I am sure there is a bunch of brain chemistry and instinctual drive to maximize my contribution to the gene pool, my reasoning is very intentional. It comes from direct exposure to a person that I will influence in an extreme way.
I’ve had this notion before, when I was a primary caregiver for children. I imagine that parents and teachers of children have this in the back of their mind all the time, and it provides a bias in their decision-making.
It touches upon our sense of accountability and fairness. Our parents have the expectation of providing for us, as well as given us as many starting advantages as possible. Even if no one says that, I think it is true; we want them to do the best they can for us, or better.
I don’t think I am indebted to do the same for my child, just highly motivated to do so. Personally, the bar is pretty low, by all accounts I’ve already surpassed my parents by not being prone to drug abuse or violence. But I am aiming higher than that, because Clover’s personal life isn’t enough for me. I would like to make my part of the world better, for em and eir friends. I would like to do so in a way that has the least adverse effect on anyone. And I would like to model the mentality and actions that are required to pull it off, so that others may emulate them (and hopefully Clover, since that would be flattering).
That is my legacy, or it will be. Not the change, but the passion and drive for it. I think the rest will follow. 