Thursday, June 16, 2005

Modern Mussar - Parents beware

This one doesn't really need any introduction, though it would be instructive to hear from those parents out there how much this is true. Children spot falsehood and pick up priorities from their parents pretty quickly, they copycat loshon hora habits at the shabbos table and they grow up with many of their parents values and attitudes whether they like it or not. Let us be warned.


My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"
.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
.
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"
.
Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"
.
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
.
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
.
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
TRK

6 Comments:

At 6/17/2005 5:12 AM, Blogger Shoshana said...

Aw - nostalgia song. And in reflecting upon it, way too true.

 
At 6/17/2005 6:28 AM, Blogger Karl said...

Ditto ditto ditto!

If anyone else has heard the retake on it (on the "Just One Shaitel" album) - the little B.Y. girl growning up, it is quite funny.

The most powerful form of education is by example. It can be quite scary how much kids pick up from their parents, especially at a young age.

 
At 6/17/2005 8:12 AM, Blogger TRK said...

Shosh, it really is.

Karl, not heard it - can u post them? Please? Pretty please with ice cream and cherries on top?

TRK

 
At 6/17/2005 9:42 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

An all too familiar example... look at the pre school aged kids of parents who don't censor the words they say, and see what language these pishers use. Its scary!

 
At 6/18/2005 5:20 AM, Blogger dawud al-gharib said...

in peace, rabbiskid (you know i'm an mk (minister's kid)?

Perhaps I'm 'over the top' on calling for sacrifice for peace in the Middle East and elsewhere:(who's the scapegoat who gets driven into the desert, who gets sacrificed?)

but my question about the Talmud and it's lessons for muslims still stands: a muslim hadith (from our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) states: "Take from the Isra'iliyyat [Biblical and extra-biblical stories of the Jews and Christians] without worry, but confirm it with Allah's Word" (for some strange reason, I think of 'trust but verify'):

and do tell me what you think the Talmud has to offer to a Muslim (insha Allah) who's pleased with the Qur'an and Sunnah as guides, but thinks that bani Isra'il has some good stories to tell (prophetically) ;)

 
At 6/21/2005 5:59 AM, Blogger Gel said...

Love that Harry Chapin song "Cats in the Cradle", so apt for Father's Day or any day, as you have posted.

The first time I heard the song, it chilled me to the bone at how true it was for too many people. (I use song titles for the posts on my blog, but that one has been in reserve.)

I'm going to google to find the song take off recommended.

Green-Eyed Lady, who dated a Rabbi's son...

 

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