Children

The priest at a father daughter retreat that my daughter and I were attending, asked the fathers to look into their daughters’ eyes and explain to her how precious she is to him. He said it might be difficult for some of you, embarrasing for some, you may feel self-conscious …

By Betty Chadek On a crisp Sunday morning in 1971, my four teenage children and I sat in our usual place in church. The sixth row and right-hand side of the sanctuary was the Chadek aisle.  As the pastor highlighted the weekly announcements, the five of us thumbed through our …

— By Jaye Lewis Christmas is for children.  Children of all ages.  Everyone who is a child at heart.  So let us not forget the child who started it all.  A little boy, moments old, filled the world with hope and love.  I cannot tell the story better than the …

— By Al Batt My thirst crept through the day. As farmers, we worked in the sun.  My forebears didn’t plant trees for shade.  They built houses for shade. The sun could be a bully.  The hard, physical work created a ravenous thirst. We didn’t spend time looking for a …

“Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad,” gushed son number one. ‘Sorry I’m running late. I had an emergency at the hospital with a patient, you know how it is, and I didn’t have time to get you a gift.”  “Not to worry,” said the father. “The important thing is that we’re …

— Author unknown While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the …

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it. …

— By Ridgely Goldsborough I stepped into my hotel room to a pleasant surprise. Lots of room surrounded an inviting king-size bed, flanked by overstuffed armchairs that rested against sliding glass doors that opened onto a private patio. A small dining table sat next to a kitchenette with a separate …

— By Ridgely Goldsborough My Dad’s seeing-eye dog, a golden retriever named Nashua, draws a lot of attention. People flock to pet him, kneel down and mumble dog talk. Each time, my Dad gently yet firmly asks them to step back. Nashua doesn’t play when he works. When in harness, …

These are actual comments made on students’ report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. All teachers were reprimanded (but, boy, are these funny!) 1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig. 2. I would not allow this student to breed. 3. Your …