Motherly Advice

    The well known President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln once said, "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." The less known President, John Quincy Adams, had stated earlier, "All that I am my mother made me." Now I'm not going to address how I believe that there should be a stronger fatherly influence especially in today's American culture where most children grow up without a father figure at all.
    I want to mention something I have noticed especially in the home-schooling (That is, the child's parents, mostly mothers, teach them at home or in small classes together with other home-schoolers. Usually based in Judeo-Christian morals and beliefs.) community near me. I'm certainly not sexist in the usual sense of the word. I do, however, believe that men and women have equal yet different roles. I see that the seventeen, eighteen, year old seniors are not what I would hope they would be. I would hope that I could say, 'Look at this next generation of men and women, they are ready to change the world.' instead I look and think to myself (for a large part), 'Another bunch of boys and girls, when will they grow up?' I observe that perhaps moms, you should let your kids grow up. If your son misplaced his cell phone, don't crawl around on your hands and knees looking for it while he just stands there. Mothers, maybe, your job isn't to take care of your children at this age. It might be to raise them up to be men and women. You might have to let them make some mistakes. Moms don't answer questions directed at your kids, if your "kids" are capable of doing so on their own.
    John Stuart Mill once said "Men are men before they are lawyers, or physicians, or merchants, or manufacturers; and if you make them capable and sensible men, they will make themselves capable and sensible lawyers or physicians." Mothers, love your sons, give them that advice about the weather and how he might need a jacket, but in the end try to raise them to be capable and sensible.
    I would like to praise all the mother's out there. The work you do to raise your children is incredibly difficult. I am not trying to belittle you or what you do, just suggesting a possible way to improve. My mother needed incredible patience and perseverance with me (can't you tell), so here's thanks to you mom.
    What do you most appreciate about your mother?

Meant for Many

See the place for many, when empty.
But slowly now it starts to fill,
and the noise it begins to rise.
Faces friendly and faces not
looking to and fro,
for their own small space in that place.

They gather here and there, I notice
with the him or her they most prefer.
And every now and then I spot,
a certain he or she,
who is by chance or purpose,
making their place with me.

www.mattspoems.com/home/meant-for-many

Regretful Opportunities

     One of the strongest feelings I have ever felt is regret. It eats at your soul, asking questions about what could have been. It hides in the past where you can't touch it, and attacks your mind in the present. I regret many things, both large and small, the many chances I missed and the many opportunities I saw and yet chose to ignore. I take the known path and it gives me security. It keeps me safe, in a way. I have often chosen to take the road more traveled and it has made life, predictable. Martin Luther King once said that "For truth and duty it is ever the fitting time; who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything" I believe I am inclined to agree with him.
     While I was out of town this summer, I attended a two week conference. The seats were assigned and I sat next to a nice young lady for about eight hours a day, everyday for those two weeks. Now I did meet some amazing people though, if you ever met them, they will testify to the fact that I'm not the best at making friends. I regret, however, that I didn't get to know the young lady sitting next to me. I watched her, observed her if you will, but I didn't get to know her. I could tell you she was sweet and kind with a soft smile that made you want to smile with her. I could tell her handwriting out of a hundred others but I couldn't tell much about her, about the person. Opportunity, that is an understatement, all that time I spent so engaged in what I needed to hear and learn that I found a 'logical' reason for not making small talk. I used a good reason, a good objective as a mere shield to keep others at a distance. I missed the chance to get to known a unique individual because I had 'more important' things to do, or at least that's what I told myself. I always want the timing to be just right before I put myself out there. I always need to know the circumstances before I risk anything, even if the risk is almost nothing at all. I'm going to try to seize more opportunities when they come my way, even if they are not 'completely favoring my undertaking'. Will you?
     I would love to know what has happened to you because you didn't miss an opportunity? What chances have you taken that proved to be completely worth it in the end?