“It’ll build character, dad!”

That’s what my 12-year old son said when we went out for a run yesterday. It was pretty cold, and I commented on his shorts and no hat or gloves attire. I had asked him if he was going to be warm enough and he said, “I’m good. It’ll build character, dad!”

I smiled as he said that and thought, “I’m teaching the little guy a few things after all.” Then as we started to jog I realized I didn’t remember that particular pearl of wisdom. I believed it, but couldn’t recall when I had told him that.

“What do you mean, buddy?” I asked.

“If its cold and hard, then it’ll build character.” He said.

“Awesome. Where did you learn that?” I asked, hoping it was something he had learned from me. I talk about the benefits of hard work all the time, after all.

“Calvin and Hobbes. His dad says it to him all the time.”

Ah, parenting through comics.

Regardless of how he learned it, I love that that’s his mentality. Indeed, hard work builds character.

And parenting builds humility ;)