Parents Certainly Are Misunderstood!
By Steven C. Staats
You thought you were happily smiling at your child from a hard stadium seat
or a hot packed auditorium, but your child looked at your face and saw your
approval of him and your 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 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 were.
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 realized that
your time is precious, knew you were investing it in him.
You thought that you asked your child's opinion about something that wasn't
too important, but your child thought you asked because his opinions and
thoughts were important.
You thought you 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 joy in accomplishment.
You thought that the refrigerator was as good of a place as any for hanging
all the art work 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 saw you tack it up in his personal hall of fame.
You thought you gave your child some simple 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 still laughs at all of the funny parts.
You thought you were just giving him a quick hug at a special moment of
"just because", but your child carried it with him for a long time, because
what you really said was, "I'm proud of you!", and "I love you!"
You thought you were just giving him a little kiss on the cheek to tell him
good bye 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 a lot of times when parents really are
misunderstood!
(This may be copied, reproduced, or freely distributed for all non-profit
purposes without consent of author as long author's name remains attached.
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