Letter from my Father’s Father

From time to time, life throws you a curve ball and as parents it’s not always easy to
know how to play the game. (Image – Robert N. Jones and Philip N. Jones circa 1941.)

One of the things that really helps Steve and I navigate the parenting role is looking back on our own childhoods. We were both blessed with wonderful parents. I always tell people that I feel like I won the parent lottery for my parents were (and continue to be) terrific role models.  My Mother was incredibly optimistic almost to a fault. One of her parenting mottos was if you “tell someone they are great – then they’ll be great and if you tell them that “they are bad then they’ll be bad  – children always live up to your expectations.” I believe she was right.

With three teenagers in the house I sat down with my 89 year old Dad to get some parenting advice and he gave me a letter that his Father wrote to him when he was 16. Although it was written on April 17, 1939 – it is timeless and so relevant that I wanted to share it today.

* For a more readable version click here.

I’m not sure the letter had the same “revvying” effect on my Dad that it had on me, for he hadn’t faced some of his greatest challenges – college, World War II, medical school, marriage and raising his family. It did, however, help me to think about my life with more perspective as I faced a summer of two teens with drivers permits and a third one returning home from his Freshman year at college.

I especially loved the part of the letter where he writes about working hard so difficulties and troubles are only bumps in the road, and not “depressions” as well as his words about friends for “good friends are invaluable.”

In closing – I hope you have a happy Fourth of July celebrating with all of the people you love, our country’s past as well as its future!

Zen Moment

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”

– Alex Haley