Don't work only for money - look into FAMILY
By ibsnet
@ibsnet (1268)
India
August 12, 2007 2:15pm CST
A nice story how we forget to care share an hour with our family for mere $20 an hour.
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.
SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "If you must know, I make $20 an hour."
"Oh", the little boy replied, with his head down.
Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I please borrow $10?"
The father was furious, "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior."
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.
"Are you asleep, son?" He asked.
"No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.
"I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man.
"It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $10 you asked for."
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. "Oh, thank you daddy!" He yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.
"Why do you want more money if you already have some?" the father grumbled.
"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied.
"Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."
So what is the moral of the story?
Don't work too hard...and you know what the full word of FAMILY is?
FAMILY =
( F )ATHER
( A )ND
( M )OTHER
( I )
( L )OVE
( Y )OU!
It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.
2 people like this
11 responses
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
13 Aug 07
I am so touched by your story. Stories like this reinforces my decision never to work abroad and leave my children under the care of my parents and sister. A lot of people keep asking me why I have not gone abroad so that I could earn 10 times over what I am earning here and my answer that I just couldn't leave my children really astounds them. Some would even say that I am just so selfish and is not thinking of the good future that I give my children. I told them that good future is not equated with money. As long as I can work and provide for my children's need then I am happy working here in my country. It is more traumatic for my children to grow up without me by their side. I hope that most parents should realize this also. One couldn't just set aside ones family. If there is a will to make things better, there is always a way and one could make it without working so far nor working too much and not spend any time with ones family.
1 person likes this
@ibsnet (1268)
• India
13 Aug 07
For a child mother has more importance, a child always first remembers his/her mother for any smallest cause even he is grown up. As per family goes we should take proper care and proper parenting till your children is established to lead his/her own life.
Thanks for touching reply.
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
13 Aug 07
I admire you for your decisionmaking. Money cannot substitute for the love that a parent can give. I think you're a good mother. Don't be bothered by other people's principles.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
13 Aug 07
The story made my cry, pulled at the strings in my heart, made me want to rush home to my son and just hug him. Maintaining a fine balance is indeed becoming more and more difficult, what with the value of money dipping and aspirations rising in inverse proportion to that. Good old days of family are truly behind us now. Spending time with the family means going to the mall for a movie and dinner, or to the amusement park for the day or to some fancy restaurants for a birthday party! Maybe in other countries parents take their children for hiking or simple picnic in the woods or outdoor sports but here in India, the facilities are lacking while (thanks due to the economic boom), money is not really a problem. People are just looking at avenues to earn more and spend more. In the process, sitting at home together for TV and dinner is passé. Unfortunately, even those who are unwilling to join the rat race, either feel left out and neglected or are looked upon as ‘losers’ by their peers. Children, needless to say, are the most targeted groups and worse sufferers. We elders understand how we are losing out on precious time and how we are failing to pass on to our progeny, the true values of life, yet it seems, we are helpless against the tide of time.
@men82in (1268)
• India
13 Aug 07
I ha ve seen a lot of persons they were working after sixty years of age also. The reason is money they were telling without money nolife. Even the government is paying pension benefits they were telling is not enough. The time like these persons prevails how the youths and unemployed will get job for bread. This is happening really all the places in India especially south India.
@prily9 (568)
• Indonesia
13 Aug 07
I ever heard that story that was very touching. I'm a mother. I never forget my family. right now I have a full time job. I really wish I could have a part time job than full time job. because I really want to spend my time alot with my daughters but I can't because if only depend with my husband salary couldn't afford all our family expenses. but I still hope someday I will have a job from home. so I can spend more time with my daughters.
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
13 Aug 07
The best way is to involve the family members also in the same business so that all the members are together and that will offset. I actually feel an hour or two is sufficient time to spend with family. However there is always a time for lunch/dinner/breakfast etc.
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
12 Aug 07
Wow, what a great reminder about how important family is! Thank you for sharing this. I really enjoyed reading it.
@tholitz (1127)
• Philippines
13 Aug 07
It's really very important to give quality time to your children, particularly when they are still young. You really don't know how much you are missing until they grew up where you could not carry them anymore because they had grown bigger or could not be with them because they spending more time with their friends and hobby. I know that money is important and play a critical part in our life particularly to father like us, but the time and happiness of being with our children could not be bought by any amount of money.
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
13 Aug 07
Wow! How often do we do things like this only to find ourselves ashamed of getting upset! I quit my full time job because it was so demanding and the overtime I was getting was just taking time away from my family! It was not worth the little bit of extra money, after Uncle Sam got his part, not to be able to see my son before going to bed in the evening. I know that times are tough and we all need money, but is it that much more important than speding the time with your loved ones and watching your children grow and learn about their world?
