Ever since they were born, Vic and I have been clear: happiness and confidence are the two things we want most for our children and the rest can all fall into place.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗
time
What would you like to leave your children?
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
One of 24 questions in The Q&A here.
On the record
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
Read by field
Everyone
Science and medicine 1
Arts and letters 28
Politics and public life 3
Business and finance 1
Sport 2
Read by age
Any age
In their thirties 4
In their forties 6
In their fifties 9
In their sixties 12
Seventy and beyond 4
Exactly what my parents left me: the knowledge of the difference between good and bad and right and wrong. Everything else is entirely up to them.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 September 2023 source ↗
Good self-esteem.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 October 2023 source ↗
A sense of the world being full of possibility and it being in their hands to make it a better one.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 November 2023 source ↗
A healthy planet.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 November 2023 source ↗
An understanding that kindness is the answer.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 March 2024 source ↗
I’d like them to inherit my optimism.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 March 2024 source ↗
As little rubbish to sort through as possible.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 April 2024 source ↗
A sense of optimism.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 September 2024 source ↗
Spirit of adventure and kindness.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2024 source ↗
Happy memories.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 16 November 2024 source ↗
The best possible understanding of who they are and where they came from.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 December 2024 source ↗
A sense of what really matters.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 February 2025 source ↗
A strong work ethic and enough wealth not to need it.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 March 2025 source ↗
Compassion, resourcefulness and resilience form a rounded good person. So that’s what I’d like to leave my children and grandchildren.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗
A sense of wonder.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 5 April 2025 source ↗
I don’t have children. I will leave my nieces money because girls need money of their own. Anything to make women independent.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 April 2025 source ↗
A bushel of self-confidence.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 April 2025 source ↗
A book of passwords for all the electrical stuff in the house.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 April 2025 source ↗
More than I can, sadly. I led the softest of lives in the softest of times, and my daughter will face sterner challenges.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗
0 answers from members
Nobody has answered this one yet.