I have two children, ages 8 and 2. When I think of their future, it's easy to imagine them graduated from college, married and living a perfect life with kids of their own. But it doesn't always work out like that, does it? Life is so unpredictable. From the moment you wake up till the moment you go to bed, it's filled with changes and decisions that affect where you end up. What with economic woes leading to job losses and housing slumps, student-loan rules that prohibit further education and government mandates on medical insurance, we really can't predict the future—and that white picket fence for my kids seems like a pipe dream.

All this being said, there are steps we can take as parents to make sure our kids have the best shot at a great future.

1) Sign up for life insurance. It's one of those things we know we should have but are often afraid to take the steps to get. As parents, we often worry that if we get life insurance we'll somehow will ourselves to die. As silly as this seems, I've talked to enough people to know that this is why they've put off signing up. So let's get real: Life insurance is important to your children for many reasons. When my mom died, we were left scrambling a bit for her unexpected funeral. While she didn't have a personal life-insurance policy, she had one through her work that allowed us to get her personal affairs in order without the stress of worrying about the money needed to do it. If I were to lose my husband, I at least know that money woes won't fall on top of the grieving and getting my children through a tough time. Life insurance doesn't create the future; it helps you care for your loved ones in the future.

How much life insurance do you need? Genworth can tell you with this easy calculator:

2) Save for retirement. My dad isn't very old. He was was pretty young when I was born, and from him I learned the value of hard work. But as I get older, I'm also learning the value of stopping work. At some point there has to be a stopping point. You can ensure your child's future not only by helping them prep for their own future retirement and understand that they need to start saving for it early on, but also by taking the burden off them to care for you when you stop working. You can do this via investments, savings and putting away the right amount of earnings, as well as by keeping a low profile when it comes to debt and bills. I remember my dad telling me in my 20s how much money I should put away to have $1 million by the time I was 50. I didn't listen. Now, much closer to 50 than I was back then, I wish I would have. Take the steps to follow up for your kids future and also to ensure your own.

3) Set up long-term care. As busy parents, we mostly live in the moment—and that's a god thing. But we often forget that we'll someday be grandparents and elderly. One way to bolster your child's future is to plan for your own long-term care. Making sure your spouse and (adult) children understand your wishes—from medical to financial—as your life goes on can take the burden off them. My husband and I are currently experiencing his grandmother's advancing dementia, and it isn't pretty. Its been stressful for the family and certainly stressful for her. Even worse, the big uncertainty around money and care is causing my husband's mom constant worry. Take the future stress off your children by laying out a plan for your long-term care. Knowledge is power. 

4) Teach your daughters about money. Women still have a tougher time with finances than men. While we're often top earners today, we still miss the mark when it comes to investments and retirement, leading to increased years of work and increased stress. Making sure you become financially savvy and then helping your daughters do the same is a great way to promote their future financial freedom, no matter what's going on in the world. This means going beyond coupons, sales and saving and learning how to invest.

5) Love your kids. This is my final piece of advice for ensuring your kids' future. Love, value and respect your children. Certainly you have to make sure they're prepared financially, have a thirst for knowledge and understand that life doesn't stop on a dime. They have to be prepared for growth, aging and the future. But loving and respecting your kids and helping them love to learn will also remind them they always have you to turn to. In the end, that makes the biggest difference of all.

Trisha Haas is the owner and main blogger/vlogger at momdot.com. She's worked with hundreds of brands and businesses and has served as a spokesperson and ambassador for the likes of Dove, Starbucks, Kraft and Reynolds Wrap. Considered a leading influential parent online, Trisha also volunteers at her local animal shelter and on volunteering Saturdays often shares pictures on her blog.