We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them
worse. I'd really like for you to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover spaghetti. 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 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 or sister.
And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the
room, but when they want to crawl under the covers with you because they're scared, I
hope you let them.
When you want to see a movie and your little sibling wants to
tag along, I hope you'll let them
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
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, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a tree, burn your hand on a stove
and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandparents
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
Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
worse. I'd really like for you to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover spaghetti. 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 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 or sister.
And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the
room, but when they want to crawl under the covers with you because they're scared, I
hope you let them.
When you want to see a movie and your little sibling wants to
tag along, I hope you'll let them
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
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, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a tree, burn your hand on a stove
and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandparents
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
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.
Thanks for posting this! It's so beautiful, and so very, very true.
ReplyDeleteI finished The Pact- and I have no idea how to describe it. Haunting, I guess, is the only word I can think of to use.
wow that was fast!!! i hope you liked it and i'm glad you enjoyed the post!
ReplyDelete