Paul Harvey Writes... 

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 meat loaf 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 old 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 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 can 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 a baseball through your neighbor's window 
and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand. 

These things I wish for you -
tough times and disappointment, 
hard work and happiness. 
To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. 

Paul Harvey...GOOD DAY!