To all the moms (and dads) who can identify themselves with the "mean moms" & to all the children who need to understand!!
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Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent,
I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you were going,with whom, and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes.
Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect..
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.
But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all.
I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.
Was your Mom mean?
I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother 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 had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.
She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing with them.
She 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 she 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, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.
I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head.
Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk, the horn when they drove up
They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.
Because of our mother 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 her fault.
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.
We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A Newborn's Conversation with God..
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Survivor..
THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.
Each kid will play two sports and take either music or dance classes.
There is no fast food.
Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.
In addition, each man will have to budget enough money for groceries each week.
Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time - no emailing.
Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.
He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.
He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a school function.
Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside, and keeping it presentable at all times.
The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.
The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn themselves with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished, and eyebrows groomed.
During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches, have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.
They must attend weekly school meetings and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.
They will need to read a book to the kids each night , feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:30 am.
A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size, doctor's name, the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear, and what they want to be when they grow up.
The kids vote them off the island based on performance.
The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.
If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years, eventually earning the right to be called Mother!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Eight lies of a Mother
Someone forwarded this email to me a few days ago. Although fictional, it's true for all the mothers, with a different flavor.
------------------
This story begins when I was a child: I was born poor. Often we hadn't enough to eat. Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son, I'm not hungry." This was Mother's First Lie.
As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten, My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick but she immediately refused it and said, "Eat this fish son, I don't really like fish." This was Mother's Second Lie.
Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, "Mother, go to sleep; it's late: you can continue working tomorrow morning." Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep son, I'm not tired." This was Mother's Third Lie.
When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. After dawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her.. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mother's love, Seeing Mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink son, I'm not thirsty!". This was Mother's Fourth Lie.
After Father's death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family's condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small.Our other neighbours saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying "I don't need love." This was Mother's Fifth Lie.
After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said, "I have enough money." That was Mother's Sixth Lie.
I continued my part-time studies for my Master's Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked, I succeeded in my studies. With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didn't want to bother her son; she said to me "I'm not used to high living." That was Mother's Seventh Lie In her dotage.
Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who as bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heartbroken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said: "Don't cry son, I'm not in pain.." That was Mother's Eighth Lie.
Telling me this her eighth lie, she died.
YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL…!
M - O - T - H - E – R
"M" is for the MILLION things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing OLD,
"T" is for the TEARS she shed to save me,
"H" is for her HEART of gold,
"E" is for her EYES with love-light shining in them,
"R" means RIGHT , and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER"-- a word that means the world to me.
------------------
This story begins when I was a child: I was born poor. Often we hadn't enough to eat. Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son, I'm not hungry." This was Mother's First Lie.
As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten, My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick but she immediately refused it and said, "Eat this fish son, I don't really like fish." This was Mother's Second Lie.
Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, "Mother, go to sleep; it's late: you can continue working tomorrow morning." Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep son, I'm not tired." This was Mother's Third Lie.
When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. After dawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her.. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mother's love, Seeing Mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink son, I'm not thirsty!". This was Mother's Fourth Lie.
After Father's death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family's condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small.Our other neighbours saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying "I don't need love." This was Mother's Fifth Lie.
After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said, "I have enough money." That was Mother's Sixth Lie.
I continued my part-time studies for my Master's Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked, I succeeded in my studies. With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didn't want to bother her son; she said to me "I'm not used to high living." That was Mother's Seventh Lie In her dotage.
Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who as bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heartbroken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said: "Don't cry son, I'm not in pain.." That was Mother's Eighth Lie.
Telling me this her eighth lie, she died.
YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL…!
M - O - T - H - E – R
"M" is for the MILLION things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing OLD,
"T" is for the TEARS she shed to save me,
"H" is for her HEART of gold,
"E" is for her EYES with love-light shining in them,
"R" means RIGHT , and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER"-- a word that means the world to me.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Children
Your children are not yours to own. They are souls whom you choose to live and work with, as part of your learning on the Earth plane. So many parents try to make their children into clones of themselves. They direct their children's energy into activities that the children are often not interested in. Yet the children often do these activities because they do not want to upset the parent.
Your children are on the Earth plane to live their OWN lives, not yours. Their astrological charts will tell you their destiny. Yet so many parents never know what their children's destiny is. THEY believe THEY KNOW what is best for their children. THEY believe the children should do what they direct them to do. So many children are miserable because of what the parents choose. If a child asks for an activity, then it is because they want to do it, and within their Higher Self there is a need to do this.
However, so many parents, when a child asks, will tell them they cannot do that activity because they do not want them to do it either because it does not register with their own desires for the child, or they do not believe the child is capable of doing it. There is nothing more frustrating for a child than to want to do something and be denied it! Very often, the child can be more adult than the parents!
LISTEN to what your children say about their desires; they are separate souls from you, they are not YOU, remember that. They have their OWN life path and their OWN life lessons. OBTAIN your child's life plan in a natal report - this is readily available on the Earth plane, then READ about your child’s life plan and their own unique destiny. There is nothing worse than a parent who returns to the spiritual realm after their Earthly life, who has FORCED their children into things they did NOT want to do, and who has to see how unhappy their children were.
Another soul, who was known as "The Prophet" Kahlil Gibran, wrote about children in his channelled writings. He wrote, "Your children are not your children, they are the life's longing for itself". He also wrote, "Your children come through you, not from you". DO NOT OWN your children; do not try to make them like you. Let them be the souls they CHOOSE to be, not what you feel they should be.
So many children are sensitive and should have their energy directed into the artistic and creative, yet are forced into sporting activities and never get a chance to learn to use the creative energy they came into this life with.
Your children are on the Earth plane to live their OWN lives, not yours. Their astrological charts will tell you their destiny. Yet so many parents never know what their children's destiny is. THEY believe THEY KNOW what is best for their children. THEY believe the children should do what they direct them to do. So many children are miserable because of what the parents choose. If a child asks for an activity, then it is because they want to do it, and within their Higher Self there is a need to do this.
However, so many parents, when a child asks, will tell them they cannot do that activity because they do not want them to do it either because it does not register with their own desires for the child, or they do not believe the child is capable of doing it. There is nothing more frustrating for a child than to want to do something and be denied it! Very often, the child can be more adult than the parents!
LISTEN to what your children say about their desires; they are separate souls from you, they are not YOU, remember that. They have their OWN life path and their OWN life lessons. OBTAIN your child's life plan in a natal report - this is readily available on the Earth plane, then READ about your child’s life plan and their own unique destiny. There is nothing worse than a parent who returns to the spiritual realm after their Earthly life, who has FORCED their children into things they did NOT want to do, and who has to see how unhappy their children were.
Another soul, who was known as "The Prophet" Kahlil Gibran, wrote about children in his channelled writings. He wrote, "Your children are not your children, they are the life's longing for itself". He also wrote, "Your children come through you, not from you". DO NOT OWN your children; do not try to make them like you. Let them be the souls they CHOOSE to be, not what you feel they should be.
So many children are sensitive and should have their energy directed into the artistic and creative, yet are forced into sporting activities and never get a chance to learn to use the creative energy they came into this life with.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A Crow
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, "What is this?"
At this time some ex-pression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when acrow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So..If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.
The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"
The Son replied "It is a crow".
After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".
After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, "What is this?"
At this time some ex-pression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".
A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when acrow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".
While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.
So..If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Butch O'Hare and Easy Eddy
I have lived in Chicago for about 12 years now and have flown out of O'Hare airport numerous times. Recently I came across the following story which was fascinating.
Manish.
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Butch O'Hare and Easy Eddy
Story number one
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mothership, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese Zeroes were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaned in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the Zeroes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation's highest military honors.
And today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
Story number two
Some years earlier there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddy. At that time, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. His exploits were anything but praiseworthy. He was, however, notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Easy Eddy was Capone's lawyer and for a good reason. He was very good! In fact, his skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big; Eddy got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced in mansion with live in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago city block. Yes, Eddy lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddy did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddy saw to it that his young son had the best of everything; clothes, cars, and a good education.
Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddy even tried to teach him right from wrong. Yes, Eddy tried to teach his son to rise above his own sordid life. He wanted him to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things that Eddy couldn't give his son. Two things that Eddy sacrificed to the Capone mob that he could not pass on to his beloved son..... good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddy reached a difficult decision. Offering his son a good name was far more important than all the riches he could lavish on him. He had to rectify all the wrong that he had done. He would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al Capone. He would try to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some assemblance of integrity. To do this he must testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. But more than anything, he wanted to be an example to his son. He wanted to do his best to make restoration and hopefully have a good name to leave his son. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddy's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago street. He had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.
I know what you're thinking. What do these two stories have to do with one another?
Well you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddy's son.
Manish.
-------
Butch O'Hare and Easy Eddy
Story number one
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mothership, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese Zeroes were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaned in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the Zeroes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation's highest military honors.
And today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.
Story number two
Some years earlier there was a man in Chicago called Easy Eddy. At that time, Al Capone virtually owned the city. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. His exploits were anything but praiseworthy. He was, however, notorious for enmeshing the city of Chicago in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Easy Eddy was Capone's lawyer and for a good reason. He was very good! In fact, his skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big; Eddy got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced in mansion with live in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago city block. Yes, Eddy lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddy did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddy saw to it that his young son had the best of everything; clothes, cars, and a good education.
Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddy even tried to teach him right from wrong. Yes, Eddy tried to teach his son to rise above his own sordid life. He wanted him to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things that Eddy couldn't give his son. Two things that Eddy sacrificed to the Capone mob that he could not pass on to his beloved son..... good name and a good example.
One day, Easy Eddy reached a difficult decision. Offering his son a good name was far more important than all the riches he could lavish on him. He had to rectify all the wrong that he had done. He would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al Capone. He would try to clean up his tarnished name and offer his son some assemblance of integrity. To do this he must testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. But more than anything, he wanted to be an example to his son. He wanted to do his best to make restoration and hopefully have a good name to leave his son. So, he testified.
Within the year, Easy Eddy's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago street. He had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer at the greatest price he would ever pay.
I know what you're thinking. What do these two stories have to do with one another?
Well you see, Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddy's son.
A letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher
Kids will start school in few weeks after the summer break.
I remembered reading the attached Abraham Lincoln's letter 25 years ago when I was in school. Between me, my wife, my family and the teachers of our kids, if we can teach these qualities to them, it would be a great start. It is going to be a tall order.
Manish Desai.
-----
I remembered reading the attached Abraham Lincoln's letter 25 years ago when I was in school. Between me, my wife, my family and the teachers of our kids, if we can teach these qualities to them, it would be a great start. It is going to be a tall order.
Manish Desai.
-----
A letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher
"He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
It will take time, I know; but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…
Teach him to learn to lose… and also to enjoy winning.
Steer him away from envy, if you can,
Teach him the secret of quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hillside.
In school teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong…
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon…Teach him to listen to all men… but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be aware of too much sweetness.
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he things he is right.
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage to be impatient… let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do…
He is such a fine fellow, my son!”
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