A friend and I were recently discussing the awesome responsibility of parenting.We both remembered our respective parents as Towering, Omnipotent Dispensers of Wisdom & Practical Knowledge about Everything.
We wondered what OUR kids would remember about us when they were grown into Fine Strong Lads & Lasses and we were tottering about in the garden, muttering to ourselves and yelling at aphids.
There are many little pearls of wisdom I walk around with inside my head, thanks to my parents. "Ladies pinch, whores use blush," among my favourites.
Other useful advice I have retained includes:
"Measure twice, cut once."
"Never use a big word when a little word will do."
"Always assume everyone on the road is drunk, homicidal and having a bad day."
and
"People are idiots."
One piece of advice sticks out above the rest though. One day, when I was a teenager, my Dad said something to me that helped me make sense of my world, and continues to inform my course through life.
"People will tell you the world is full of Wolves and Sheep.
They will say you must choose which one you are going to be.
But I am telling you, there are also Foxes."
HW
2 comments:
Being the daddy fox in question, I must say that this piece makes me truly appreciate what an awesome responsibility parenthood is, for those who take it seriously.
And certainly, I still believe that it is better to be a fox than either a wolf or a sheep but what terrible things a fox sees in this world run by wolves.
I would amend the first pearl of wisdom to, "Ladies pinch, whores run for high office."
Before we get a slew of outrage, I would like to explain that the previous commentator is not a misogynist, fundamentalist, macho barbarian, he is simply anti-politician, and "whore" in this case, is a term equally applicable to male, female or hermaphroditic politicians. Thank you for your time and attention.
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