This time passes so quickly. Now his world revolves around Mommy and Daddy and all the new wonders he discovers in his adventures but these days pass so quickly that I sincerely suggest you don't waste a minute of this time. Before you know it his world will be much broader and his interests will begin to differ from yours quite dramatically. He will still look at you with love and turn to you when he needs you but the frequency of that need will be in direct proportion to how well you have prepared him to deal with life himself. 

The wise parent knows this is as it should be but it still tends to make a parent, perhaps wistfully, remember the days when his world revolved around you and you were the centre of his universe. If you have done your job well you will have a best friend for life ... it just won't be a friendship based on dependency. It will be one based on mutual love and respect.

1. My hands are small. please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short, please slow down so that I can keep up with you. 

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have, please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily. 

3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for a short time, please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly. 

4. My feelings are tender, please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated. 

5. I am a special gift from God, please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism, remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me. 

7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kinds of decisions that life requires of me. 

8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister. 

9. Please don't be afraid to encourage me and tell me how proud you are of me when I bring home a report card even if it isn't straight "A's". Please see how excited I am and how very much I want your approval. Don't just focus on the one or two "C's"

10. Remember I learn from listening to, and observing you, please make sure you provide an example you will be proud to call friend in years to come.

I cannot take credit for the 'Child's Ten Commandments' or 'Baby's Bill of Rights' although I have edited somewhat to conform with my thoughts. The original authors are unknown to me. Both do mirror my thoughts so well I decided to incorporate them into this page.

Nothing we do in our lives as parents has such a profound effect as how we relate to our children in their formative years. When we bring children into this world, or in the case of adoption, into our hearts, we are charged with helping to form their character and personality, their value system, and the manner in which they relate to others. Determining in so many ways the kind of adult they will become. It is not a charge to be taken lightly. As Jackie Kennedy is quoted as having said ... "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much." I agree with the lady.

I only wish I had acquired this wisdom many decades ago when my very much loved son was a babe in arms. We are in many instances little more than children ourselves when we first take on the responsibility of bringing a child into this world. Particularly in the time when I was a young mother and we tended to marry at an earlier age. There are no parenting courses which can possibly prepare you for this task. It's a course learned in the doing. And we err at times. I know I did. Of course, you do have the option of listening to this old lady and taking her words to heart. They might help or at least provide some hints to help do a better job than I did although my son made it to adulthood despite the times I failed and I do have a multitude of memories which  bring me a happiness in the remembering that I wouldn't exchange for all of the wealth on this planet.

I do also have a very much loved friend in that son which is ' a blessing which just keeps on giving '. Life has a way of balancing out so don't sweat the missteps. Love does have a way of erasing them as time passes. The proof ?  Here is an entry I found in my guest book one morning a few years ago...