Hey Mom and Dad, water your kids!!

Last night, my wife was attending a school board meeting (one of her many duties as a school principal) so it was just my son and I in attendance at the house. Being as how I have been getting home by 6 o'clock each evening, I wanted to get started on my daily exercises with a personal development program I am enrolled in and brainstorm about how to attract traffic to my websites. My 18 year old son was in his room doing who knows what and came out for a brief moment to chat and with me as I was working and then went back to his room. I then thought about how much I enjoyed just having a good quality conversation with him however brief. It then dawned upon me that as a senior in high school, he may not be at home too much longer.

I then decided to stop what I was doing and go to his room. After knocking, I went in and we quickly struck up a conversation about stuff in general and it was actually quite sociable. He told me what was on his mind, I listened and then offered my inputs. What really struck me was how stimulating it was for me just to hear what he had to say and I could tell that he appreciated me giving him some of my time. Even when I get the chance to talk with my daughter on the phone (she lives in Washington D.C.) I can tell that she likes having me around to lend an occasional ear and support now and then. With my son, I ended up staying awhile longer, even played some of his video games on the PS3. The time I spent with him made me reflect on how important it is to do things together as a family, in part if not in whole.

Kids who do not get the time of day from their parents often feel resentment and will go elsewhere for attention. Those children who do get the blessings of a wholesome family life will often grow up to be healthier, happier and more optimistic and confident individuals. So just like plants that are tended to, watered frequently, get lots of sunshine and in general good soil to grow in, the fruits to be harvested or the flowers that will bloom so that they may display their beauty are the children that will prosper from the love of their parents as they progress from infancy to adulthood.