Old Poem

Ok, so I'm a saver (a.k.a. pack rat). I was going through my memory box and found this old poem I saved from when I was just a kid....

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
Id a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to confide.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

The poem is pretty straightforward. Not too deep. But there are two things I really like about it. First, I like that even as a young child it rang true to me, it meant something. Second, I like how it makes me think, now that I'm an adult and on the other side of things. As a child I felt it was important because it was a declaration of how I wanted to be treated so I could be and become a good person while showing what would also make me less of a person. As an adult I see how I should behave so that each of my children can grow into their best self. Just a thought.