Parenting Guru: 5 things I hope my teenage children will do (that I haven’t done)

Hmm...it's a hot, lazy summer day and I'm feeling a little nostalgic. My kids are growing up WAY too fast, and are now 17. I remember that age so vividly. The world seemed full of possibilities in some ways, yet claustrophobic in others. I was full of my own and others' expectations. In the years since, I've accomplished a lot, but there are also loads of activities I've not tried (yet). So, I started thinking about what I hope my boys might be able to experience that has thus far eluded me. Lately, my parenting suggestions seem to be met with a fair amount of skepticism, but maybe they'd be OK with the following advice:

1. Go on a safari. Sadly, I'm a bit remedial in the nature department. I never liked camping and only enjoy leisurely hikes, not uphill climbs. And as a bonafide city girl, the closest I've been to a safari is The Animal Kingdom at Disneyworld. Yet, I feel like the opportunity to see animals in their natural environment would have great meaning for my children and give them a sense of perspective about caring for our planet that would be hard to beat.
2. Speak another language fluently. They have a head start on this one, as my husband's family is Cuban and many of them are bilingual. It opens up so many opportunities to meet and interact with others when you speak their native language. My Spanish leaves a lot to be desired, since apparently I said "I have a man" instead of "I am hungry" to a total stranger on a foreign trip, recently. But, I told my horrified teenagers, at least I gave it a try! I wish they'd take more risks and initiate conversations with their fledgling Spanish.
3. Go scuba diving. I've always been a fan of Jacques Cousteau and a sucker for any National Geographic show about the oceans. The hidden world beneath the waves never ceases to amaze me. To this point, snorkeling in Mexico is the closest we've come, and the utter peacefulness of being underwater astonished me. I'd love for my kids to take that experience one step further.
4. Become accomplished cooks. Sure, my mashed potatoes are pretty fabulous, but for most meals, I need to follow a recipe if it 's going to be truly delicious. It would be so wonderful if my boys could have culinary savvy. It's such an attractive trait in a guy, to be able to whip up a dinner spontaneously or to have a signature dish. My friends who are talented chefs have a wonderful appreciation for the entire process of eating that I'd love my boys to enjoy.
5. Take a cross-country trip with each other. Growing up, my family of seven didn't have the means for long trips. If we went over the border from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, it was a big deal! But time spent in the car is a wonderful way to really get to know one another, and shared sibling time is often rare in our busy lives. I would get such a kick out of sending my twins on their way for some bonding time together, sans the parental units.

So, let's see…. Wouldn't it be great if my kids could travel together amicably to a Spanish-speaking country where they can go on safari and scuba dive, before settling down for an extraordinary home-cooked meal. That's not too much to wish for, is it? OK, maybe they can tackle one at a time. That would be cool, too.

I'm curious: What would you wish your kids might do that you haven't been able to?