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 own 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 dog put to sleep. I hope you
> >
> > get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
> >
> > -- I hope you have to share a bedroom with your
> >
> > younger brother. And it's all right if you have to
> >
> > 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
> >
> > brother wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him.
> >
> > 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 someone
> >
> > as uncool as your Mom.
> >
> > -- If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches
> >
> > you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope
> >
> > you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When
> >
> > you learn to use computers, I hope you also 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 Grandpa 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
> >
> > baseball through your neighbor's window and that she
> >
> > hugs you and kisses you at Christmastime when you
> >
> > give her a plaster mold of your hand.
> >
> > -- These things I wish for you -- tough times and hard
> >
> > work, disappointment and happiness. To me, it's the
> >
> > only way to appreciate life. Written with a pen.
> >
> > Sealed with a kiss. If you are my friend, please
> >
> > answer this: Are we friends or are we not? You told
> >
> > me once, but I forgot. So tell me now. And tell me
> >
> > true. So I can say.....I'm here for you. Of all the
> >
> > friends I've met, you're the one I won't forget. And
> >
> > if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait
> >
> > for you.
> >