Does this strike a chord with you? It humbled me and brought tears to my eyes. I pledge to do better. Do you?

Question

I'm a mother, but the gender doesn't matter.

By W. Livingston Larned

Father Forgets

Listen, son; I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.

There are things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a twoel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread.
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And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Goodbye, Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"

Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came Up the road, I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before you boyfriends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive - and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father!

Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.

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You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding - this was my reward to your for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too muchof youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years.

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And there was so much that was good and fine and true in yourcharacter. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself overthe wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt there, ashamed!

It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you alugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: "He is nothing buy a boy - a little boy!"

I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby. Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.

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I apologize for the typos - I cut and pasted it from another site rather than hand typing it in myself and I forgot to spell check.

I loved all the answers! I'll put it to a vote because I just can't choose a best one :)

Answer 1

WONDERFUL...and oh so true. We often expect adult behavior from our children long before they reach adulthood. I am a mother and a grandmother and I am guilty as charged. My eyes have been opened and I too will attempt to do better. Thank you for my awakening...God bless you.

Answer 2

This is great it should teach all of us not to cry about the small things. Especially dont take our children for granted. I am especially going to remember this when my children do something pety and it doesnt even matter thank you for the reminder

Answer 3

Thanks for sharing that - it was really thoughtful of you. Nice to come across something on this site that is heartfelt, instead of all the problems we end up reading.
It is so true, and we as parents must try to do that more. Enjoy our children for who each of them is, and remember that they are not little adults, but just little kids. Messes should be expected, not always criticized. I'm glad the parent came to his senses....

Answer 4

i really like it... it reminds me on how i am with my daughter at times. I want her to be perfect, but i always forget she is a little girl and doing kid things. This poem really put it into perspective for me. I need to get down to her level MORE often to see it from her point of view...

Answer 5

I can so relate to this I have a 5 yr old he's my world but I do catch myself snapping at him for no reason when all he want to do is give me a hug and say he loves me. Boys will be boys

Answer 6

Well I am 17 and a boy. I loved it. I felt a swarm of emotions encompass my soul. I enjoyed reading that alot. Thank you.

Answer 7

ugh i have a lump in my throat. im guilty of doing the same things. i have pledged about 6 months ago to be more easy on them and i really have but sometimes the impatience gets to me. we have to remember they are only children and we have to let them BE just that. :) thanks for sharing this!

Answer 8

T.T

a simply wonderful reminder..

thanks for sharing!

Answer 9

love it