One Hundred Years....

from now, it will not matter
what kind of car I drove,
what kind of house I lived in,
how much was in my bank account,
nor what my clothes looked like.

But,....

the world may be a little better
because I was important
in the life of a child.

Author unknown

Children Are....The ABC's

Amazing, acknowledge them.
Believable, trust them.
Childlike, allow them.
Divine, honor them.
Energetic, nourish them.
Fallible, embrace them.
Gifts, treaure them.
Here now, be with them.
Innocent, delight with them.
Joyful, appreciate them.
Kindhearted, learn from them.
Lovable, cherish them.
Magical, fly with them.
Noble, estemm them.
Open-minded, respect them.
Precious, value them.
Questioners, encourage them.
Resourceful, support them.
Spontaneous, enjoy them.
Talented, believe in them.
Unique, affirm them.
Vulnerable, protect them.
Whole, recognize them.
Xtraspecial, celebrate them.
Yearning, notice them.
Zany, laugh with them.

Author Unknown

Mean Parents

We had the meanest parents in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids ate too.

Mom and Dad insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. They had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. They insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but they had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think they would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

They always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, Mom could read our minds. Then life was really tough! Our parents wouldn't just let our friends honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so they could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our parents we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all their fault. Now that we have left home, we are all God-fearing, educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom and Dad were. I think that's what's wrong with the world today.

It just doesn't have enough mean parents anymore!

Author unknown

Parents are Certainly Misunderstood!

by Steven C. Staats

You thought you were happily smiling at your child
from a hard stadium seat or a packed hot auditorium,
But, your child looked at your face and saw approval of him
and joy in what he was doing.

You thought that you were just patting him on the back
or on the head, or just ruffling his hair,
But your child cherished the warm loving touch
and his heart was brightened.

You thought you were reading a bedtime story
with all the funny and scary voices,
But your child enjoyed the fact that you read every word
even though he had heard them a hundred times before.

You thought you were letting your child help paint the house
even though the paint got kind of runny and drippy in places,
But your child knew that you were working together as a family
and felt a sense of accomplishment as a family.

You thought you were singing silly songs
or counting the cows on a long boring trip,
But your child learned that it was fun being together
no matter where you are.

You thought you were spending a few minutes of your time
by throwing a ball in the back yard or baking some cookies,
But your child who knew your time was precious,
knew you were investing in him.

You thought that you asked your child's opinion about something
that wasn't too important,
But your child thoguht you asked because
his opinions and thoughts were important.

You thought were being a good host by inviting your child's friends
in for a cool snack on a warm summer day,
But your child knew that his friends were important to you
and always welcome in your home.

You thought the tears in your eyes went unnoticed
when your child accomplished an important goal in his life,
But your child knew that he was deeply imbedded in your heart
and you sensed his accomplishment.

You thought that the refrigerator was as good a place as any
for hanging all the artwork and "well done" papers that came home from school,
But your child felt important when he came home from school each day
with something to show you and tack up in his personal hall of fame.

You thought you gave your child some small chore or job to do
and told him, "Well done.", with a smile when he did it,
But your child learned responsibility and
began to realize he could tackle even tougher things.

You thought you were helping a troubled restless child
get some sleep by fixing a cup of hot cocoa,
But your child felt that you were opening your heart
around a kitchen table and making all the problems a lot smaller.

You thought the vacation wasn't much of a success
because the fish didn't bite and the sun didn't shine,
But your child still remembers everything that happened
and he still laughs at all of the funny parts.

You thought you were just pointing out the words in the church hymn book
with your child's finger as he tried to sing along,
But your child learned that singing
praises to God in worship was important.

You thought you were just giving him a quick hug
at a special moment or "just because",
But your child carried it with him for a long time,
because what you really said was, "I'm proud of you!", or "I love you!"

You thought you were giving him a little kiss on the cheek
to tell him goodbye as he left for school,
But your child felt warm and loved because he knew
there would be another one waiting for him when he got home.

Come to think of it, there are alot of times
when parents are really misunderstood!

These things I wish for each of you

by Paul Harvey

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 meatloaf 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 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 room with your younger brother.
And it's all right if you 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 sister wants to tag along,
I hope you'll let 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 somone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you
how to make one instead of buying you one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers,
I hope you'll learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends
when you have your first crush on a 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 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 a neighbor's window
and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time
when you give her a 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.

May You Always Feel Loved...

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation with optimism and courage.
Always know that there are those hose love and understanding
will always be tthere even when you feel most alone.

May you discover enough goodness in others to beleive in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile
be yours every day of your life
and may you give these gifts as well as recieve them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems neverending.

May the teaching of those you admire become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.
Remember those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours are always a part of you.
even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.

May you not become too concerned with material matters,
but place immeasurable value on the goodness of your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around you,
Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
but each of us is different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard
may be more than compensated for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present

May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgements of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

author unknown

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