I was a wonderful parent before I had children. I was an expert on why everyone else was having problems with theirs. Then I had three of my own.

The mere existence of an additional child or children in the family could signify Less. Less time alone with parents. Less attention for hurts and disappointments. Less approval for accomplishments. . . . No wonder children struggle so fiercely to be first or best. No wonder they mobilize all their energy to have more or most. Or better still, all.

When we acknowledge a child's feelings, we do him a great service. We put him in touch with his inner reality. And once he's clear about that reality, he gathers the strength to begin to cope.

Comforters for our todays / Guardians of memories / Keeping our youth and yesterdays alive / Comrades with one history.

I was a wonderful parent before I had children.

Deep inside you know / when trouble comes / and there's no one else to turn to / you can call on each other / and count on each other ... / because each other / is all you have.

No one cares / who is better / who is worse / who has more / who has less. / Content in our connectedness / we are brothers and sisters / after all.

Let us be different in our homes. Let us realize that along with food, shelter, and clothing, we have another obligation to our children, and that is to affirm their rightness. The whole world will tell them what's wrong with them--out loud and often. Our job is to let our children know what's right about them.

When we give children advice or instant solutions, we deprive them of the experience that comes from wrestling with their own problems.