Recently, Time Magazine published an article on the life of Ann Dunham, best known as presidential hopeful Barack Obama's mother. Born Stanley Ann Dunham (according to Wikipedia, because her father had wanted a boy), her life story is captivating. She sounds like a woman I might like to be - strong, open-minded, intelligent - in a time when women were not expected to be any of those things. Obama himself has said that she was “the dominant figure in my formative years . . . the values she taught me continue to be my touchstone when it comes to how I go about the world of politics” (Wikipedia) Which begs the question - what qualities are important in the mothers who raise our future presidents?

We cannot answer this question without first asking what qualities are vital in our presidents themselves. The first quality essential to the successful leadership of the President is Integrity - a word which gets thrown around a lot. What does it mean? According to Merriam-Webster, integrity is “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values”; honesty is one synonym for integrity. Another key value is the ability to put others before oneself. A President must be able to put his own opinions and vendettas aside for the good of the American people, instead of using his power to satisfy his own personal agenda. A President must also be well-educated and open-minded, allowing him to see different points of view, effectively manage international relations and to serve all of his constituents equally. He or she must be a well-rounded, balanced individual - capable of balancing compassion with common sense, the rights of the individual with the common good. A President must be many things - a lot for any man or woman to live up to. But what characteristics can a mother have to encourage these traits in her children?

She Should Place A Strong Emphasis On Education

Education is an important part of any child's life, and not just for the knowledge it imparts. An education allows children to broaden their horizons, to form opinions based on real knowledge When mothers make education a part of their child's day-to-day life, it becomes a lifelong habit for the child. A craving for knowledge can open many doors, and allow the child to become a well-rounded and well-educated adult. Obama's mother, for instance, enriched her son's education with correspondence courses in English and recordings of Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King during their time in Indonesia (Wikipedia). She never forced any one set of beliefs on her children. Rather, she provided them with all of the knowledge available and allowed them to choose for themselves, according to Wikipedia.

She Should Do What She Feels Is Right, In Spite of Fear, Hate and Adversity

A mother can teach by example that doing what is right is more important than doing what is easy, and this is such an important value for our President to have. How can a mother show this? Ann Dunham showed it in the way she lived her life. She married Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., in spite of adversity from his parents and her own, according to Obama's book, Dreams from My Father. Having a parent who has chosen the correct path over the easy one can provide strength and inspiration to children as they grow.

She Should Show Compassion Towards Others

How can a mother teach her child to put others before themselves? By showing compassion. Volunteering at a local shelter, adopting homeless animals, or giving unwanted toys and clothes to local charities are all ways to show that putting others before oneself is important. According to the Times, her daughter Maya said “She cried a lot if she saw animals being treated cruelly or children in the news or a sad movie”. Teaching a child how to help others and feel a connection with them is a gift that will last a lifetime.

She Should Model Honesty & Demand The Same From Her Children

Children automatically assume that their parents will not lie to them, and that only changes if they are shown differently. Without honesty, one cannot be true to oneself or to anyone else. Some of the most grievous offenses committed by past president's have involved omissions of fact or other types of deceit. Honesty is the foundation on which all other characteristics of an individual are based; without it, the rest of a person's character can be viewed as false.

She Should Stand Up For What She Believes In & Follow Her Dreams

An individual does not become president or change the world while waiting in the stands. One must learn to follow and fight for what they want, and not to take no for an answer. This characteristic will follow an individual into the presidency and beyond. Whether lobbying for a change in the legislature or proposing sanctions on another country, a mother will need to have shown her child that following what you believe in is important. Ann Dunham knew all about following her heart. According to Wikipedia, Ann was an anthropologist who was deeply interested in the plight of peasant workers in Indonesia. She actually moved there to research her dissertation before become a rural developer, working in women's rights. The strength to follow your dreams is passed down by example.

A mother can give many gives to her son, but the most substantial are those which can not be quantified or wrapped inside a box. A mother can teach her son to be a good man, a strong man, an honest man. These things provide a launchpad for whatever he may wish to be, from president to rocket scientist.