For My Grandchildren, I'd Like Better

Every Tuesday I post a chain email that I receive, I don't collect them all but every so often as I read through them I find some that actually mean or say something worth remembering and worthy of being past through. I say 85% of the chain emails I receive end with me. So here's one of those that I did keep so read on and enjoy.

This one I can actually credit the writer.

Paul Harvey wrote:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and home made ice cream and leftover meatloaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's alright if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room. But when he want's to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your younger brother/sister wants to tag along. I hope you let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you learn to add and substract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you get your first crush, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandparents and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy over the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through the neighbours window and that she hugs and kisses you at Hanukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you -- tough times and disappointment, hard work and hapiness. To me it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do. I'll go to heaven and wait for you.