To My Grown – Up Child

My hands were busy throughout the day
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to
I didn’t have much time for you

I’d wash your clothes; I’d sew and cook,
But when you’d bring your picture book,
And ask me, please to share your fun,
I’d say, “A little later, son”.

I’d tuck you in all, safe at night
And hear you pray, turn out the light
Then tiptoe softly to the door,
I wish I’d stayed a minute more

For life is short, and years run past,
A little boy grows up so fast
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,
There are no children’s games to play,
No good-night kisses, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yester year

My hands once busy now lie still
The days are long and hard to fill
I wish I might go back and do
The little things you asked me to. ALICE E. CHASE

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Work is forever. Childhood is only once. Spend time with your kids...

TELEVISION
By Roald Dahl

"The most important thing we've learnt,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, Never, NEVER let
Them near your Television Set -
Or better still, just don't install
That idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare unitl their eyes pop out.
They sit and stare and stare and sit -
Until they're hypnotized by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk!
With all that ghastly retarded junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill.
They never kick or punch.
They leave you free to cook the lunch.
And wash the dishes in the sink.

But did you ever stop to think -
To wonder exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THEIR HEAD!
IT KILLS THEIR IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND -
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY OR A FAIRLYLAND!

His brain becomes soft as cheese!
His powers of visualization rust and freeze!
HE CANNOT THINK - HE ONLY SEES!

"All right!" you cry. "All right!", you'll say
"But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children - Please explain!"
We'll answer this by asking you -
"What used the darling ones to do?
How used they to keep themselves contended
Before this monster was invented?"
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?"

We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
TO READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was spent reading books!
The library shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed -
More books were waiting to be read!

Such wondrous, fine, fantastic tales...
Of dragons, gypsies, queens and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr Tod, the dirty rotter
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and
Just how the Camel got his rump,
And how the Monkey lost him rump!
And how Mr Toad, bless my soul,
Met Mr Rat and Mr Mole.

Oh books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So, please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV sets away.
And in its place, you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks.
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks.

Fear not, because we promise you -
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do.
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start - oh boy, Oh Boy!
You'll watch their growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive Television Screen!
And later, when they grow up -
Each and every kid
Will love you more for what you once did!

CLASSIC!

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It is so simple to be happy but so difficult to be simple

SIMPLY GREAT !!!

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sukhdeep

Hi

The poem from Anujark, is great. I always spend time with my kids, but now i will make sure, to have more quality time with the kids.

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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, LIVE IT TO FULLESST

Thanks for the reminder.

Regards.