This is For Me, My Mother & Father...

Laws of Parenting
1. The later you stay up, the earlier your child will wake up the next morning.
2. For a child to become clean, something else must become dirty.
3. Toys multiply to fill any space available.
4. The longer it takes you to make a meal, the less your child will like it.
5. Yours is always the only child who doesn't behave.
6. If the shoe fits... it's expensive.
7. The surest way to get something done is to tell a child not to do it... :-))
For example: Filina, don't spoil it... Soon, you'll have to take a wipe.

For My Papi
At the age of sixty-four, Dad retired. I wanted to buy him something to thank him for all his hard work and sacrifice. As I shopped, I realized there was nothing I could buy that could thank him enough. He had taught me through his own hard work and faith in God that the greatest gifts come from the heart and not the store. That night, I sat down and wrote a list of "Thank You's" to my father for all he had done for me. I left it on the kitchen table for Dad to read before this final day at work.

THANK YOU DAD

For waking up every morning when it was still dark outside and going to work, while we slept in our warm beds.
For teaching me how to pray.
For loving my mother with all your heart.
For teaching me I can never say "please" and "thank you" too often.
For giving me life even after you lost a son.
For being a wonderful grandfather.
For telling me it's okay to cry.
For being my hero, for being my friend.
For translating my first novel, Robinson Crusoe.
For always asking my math homework.
For not asking me why I haven't got married at the age of 27.
For encouraging me to be myself. (This is the greatest gift from you).
I feel easy and comfortable to be what I am now, it is because of you.

What I think of my Mother . . .

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either!
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
Submitted by Kiri Hyatt