SaneAmongInsane said:
Exclusively? I am not his parent, and it takes a village to raise a child... or so they say.
I'm just saying, in a world where this 3 year old asks me "who should I aspire to be in this world, uncle" whom should I show?
Side note: I'm also an Uncle.
When the 3 year old asks you, "who should I aspire to be"--which is unlikely, tell them to be the best person *they* can be.
But also, why do they need Superman, when they have you? You are a role model..and you will be their role model. You be a good man of high moral character, they will watch you and learn from you.
Also, who do *you* admire? Show them a world of history. Teach them about people who created great works of art, who survived terrible odds, who discovered amazing things, who helped others, who stood up for principles. The world is full of real life inspirations of all sorts. But in the end, I can't be my Drill Sergeant, but I can be disciplined like him. I can't be Rosa Parks, but I can stand up for equality like she did. I can't be my mother, but I can be kind like her. I can't be my advisor, but I can be generous in spirit like he is. Encourage your nephew to be a good person, to follow his dreams--wherever they may take him. And, as we say in the NCO corps, Lead by Example.
By the way, when I was 11 or 12, I first read the Athenian Boys Oath...written by Solon, that all Athenian young men took when they turned 18. It always made an impression on me. Maybe you can keep that for your nephew for later:
"We will never bring disgrace to this, our city, by any act of dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades in the ranks. We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; we will revere and obey the city's laws and do our best to incite a like respect and reverence in those above us who are prone to annul or set them at naught; we will strive unceasingly to quicken the public sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit this city not only less, but greater than it was transmitted to us."