What is your favorite quote or poem that is related to parenthood....?

i absolutely love this letter from abe lincoln....

LETTER FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HIS SON’S TEACHER

“My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him - but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found. In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.

Teach him to be gentle with people, tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him if you can - how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.

Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filters all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patient to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.

This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.

I love the poem you published,should be by means of a ways the quality one I have heard in recent years. Favorite quote. "A puppy is likely one of the closing factors why a few humans may also be persuaded to head for a stroll." ~O.A. Battista Favorite poem. Every puppy ought to have a soul Somewhere deep within Where all his hurts and grievances Are buried together with his pleasure. Where he makes a decision the well and dangerous, The unsuitable means from the correct, And wherein his judgment cautiously Is hidden from our sight. A puppy ought to have a mystery situation Where each and every inspiration abides, A variety of near acquaintance that He trusts in and confides. And whilst accused unjustly for Himself, he can't talk, Rebuked, he unearths inside his soul The relief he ought to search. He'll love, tho' he's unloved, And he's going to serve tho' badly used, And one form phrase will wipe away The instances whilst he is abused. Altho' his center might holiday in 2 His love will nonetheless be entire, Because God gave to each and every puppy An knowledge Soul! -Anonymous BQ:Simply Nourish:)

My favorite is this one, a friend adapted it to give to her family to let them know she was expecting...

Once upon a time, there was a child in Heaven, waiting to find its

earthly family. Every day, the child watched the people on earth,

and tried to decide what family to join. Every day, the angels asked

the child "Have you found your family yet?" and the child would

always reply "No. I am waiting for the perfect one."

One day, a sound traveled up all the way from earth, and echoed

throughout heaven. It was the most joyful sound the child have ever

heard from earth. It made God smile. The child asked God what it

was, and He replied "That my child, was the sound of another child's

laughter. People often laugh when they are happy." The child was

awed by the sound, and looked to earth to see who had made it. The

child saw a little girl with sparkling eyes and a vibrant

smile. "What a happy little girl!" the child exclaimed, and

continued to watch. The little girl was surrounded by joyful and

loving people. "God…" the child began. "I love this family." God

smiled. "I knew you would." The angels sang. But the little child

still needed some reassurance.

Tell me," asked the child, "here in Heaven, I don't do anything else

but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."

"Your family will sing for you and will also smile for you every day.

And you will feel your family's love and be happy. You will learn to

sing and smile once again." God reassured him.

"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me,

if I don't know the language that men talk?"

"Your family will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you

will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your family will

teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you, Lord?"

"Your family will place your hands together and will teach you how to

pray."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

"Your family will always talk to you about me and will teach you the

way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to

you."

"They sound wonderful. But…will they be expecting me?" the child

asked tentatively.

"Not at first. But they will be very pleasantly surprised, and

prepare for you with great care and love. This family will be more

complete with you in it."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven. The child knew that

this family must be truly wonderful for that little girl to be so

happy.

"What happens now?" the child asked.

"I will lay my hands on your mother, and you will begin your new life

at that moment. You will grow, and after some time, you will be

ready to be held by her, your earthly father, and your sister."

And so began the life of a beautiful baby.

The poem Children Learn What They Life - forget the author.

Life is not measured in breaths- but by moments that take your breath away- unknown

One lasting bequest we can give our children is roots so they can find their wings- unknown

It is not so important what I have done today, but rather that I have touched the life of a child.-unknown

Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way they should go and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Before you were conceived I wanted you

Before you were born I loved you

Before you were here an hour I would die for you

This is the miracle of Mother's Love.

"i believe that children are out future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier, let the children's laughter, reminds us how we used to be."

I brought you into this world and I can take you out!

---Bill Cosby