Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Raising children..

I received this great email today. This one struck a chord with me...
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Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

i am so glad you posted this! it is WONDERFUL!! I hope LOTS & LOTS of people read it!!!!

Jan said...

I love that Paul Harvey. He could change the world if we would let him. It so ironic how true that all is. But people would think we were terrible if we really thought like that. Isn't that sad.

That is what the Lord said to Adam and Eve. They were sent on their way to know the hardships. He knew that it built character.

Thanks Red..

Janell said...

This is lovely. I hope we can teach our kids these things.

Janell said...

BTW - Can you please tell me the trick for getting your hubbie to read AND comment on your blog???? William will check it out IF I FORCE HIM TO every so often.

Pancake said...

I love it! I miss hearing Paul Harvey and the Rest of the story on the radio! Thansk for posting this!

tammy said...

I love it!!! Isn't that the truth!!!

Tasha said...

I really liked this one too. I think it gives us a little perspective on not sheltering our kids from everything because then they won't learn.

chelle said...

This is great. We sure need to teach our kids how to handle disappointments now so they can handle them when they are adults.
I sure enjoy your blog! Great writing. I would love to add your blog to my list of favorites but the link does not come up when I open it. Could you send me your link? My email address is: gr8photos@hotmail.com

Or

leave it on my comments. Only if you want. Thanks, M

tiki_lady said...

I have been searching for this all night. A friend just recently blogged about parenting. We rear our children this way. Schools so worried about hurting and upsetting children. They enforce mediocracy. By not giving special recognition to the child who excells and does well. But ensuring that all "feel good." or punishing the entire class for 2 children. Instead of dealing with the 2 individuals. Ugh!! Parents are too quick to attack the offender instead of teaching their children how to deal with life and how to over come. What was the lesson about the man who was bit by a snake and his friends went after the snake instead of tending to the victim? It was in a church magazine a loooong time ago. Give your children the tools to survive and the confidence to know that if they fail or succeed they are still GREAT! Ok, I'm going to post this too! sorry for the mini rant.

julie said...

I read this before and wish I had it. Thanks for reminding me I wanted a copy! This is so true. I learn the best lessons through my challenges and so do my kids. They are kinder and more accepting of others because they have had to move so often!

Anonymous said...

I saw this many years ago and have put it in all my kids' scrapbooks. I love it!