Poetic Parenting
Bright Beginnings to Fabulous Futures
by
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HONESTY
“Emma, I finally did it. I got that television app!”
My mom was excited, and I was too. I asked for the password, and my mom gave it to me on one condition: I had to check with her before watching anything that was rated for teenagers.
Fast-forward to that weekend, and my cousin Melanie was sleeping over. “Let’s watch that new dystopia movie. I heard it’s awesome,” said Mel.
I knew that my mom would say that this was a movie she wanted to watch with me, in case there were inappropriate scenes I had questions about. Brutal.
But, on the other hand, I also knew that she trusted me enough not to check what we were watching, and that I could probably get away with watching it secretly. I considered my options.
Suddenly, I was 5 years old, at the mini-golf course that my brother Ken and I loved, a few towns over.
As my parents stepped up in line to pay for themselves and my little brother and me, my dad said, “Two adults, one four year old, and one five year old, please.”
I noticed that the sign said the price was lower for kids 4 and under, and I had just turned 5 a few weeks ago. Would the half-asleep, pimplyfaced teenager at the cash register even notice if my dad said I was 4?
After we walked away, I asked my dad why he didn’t just pretend that I was still 4 to save some money. He looked right at me, and said, “Because honesty is more important than money.”
Back to the sleepover, and I knew what I had to do.
“I know it’s annoying, but I can’t watch that without checking with my mom. She’ll probably want to watch it with us if I tell her. Let’s just watch one of our usual shows from the kids’ channel.”
We watched one of our old favorites, and it was pretty funny. I guess honesty is more important than money and movies.
If you are dishonest
You can’t be surprised
If your kids grow up
And start telling lies
Show them through your actions
That honesty is best
And they’ll do the right thing
When put to the test
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About the Book
Parenting is the most difficult and important job one can undertake. While the process of being a parent cannot be described as easy, the formula for success can be quite simple: put in the work when children are little and reap the rewards as they become teens and young adults.
Farrah Walters relies on fictional siblings, Emma and Ken, to impart words of wisdom as they reflect back on lessons from their younger days while facing tough decisions in their middle school years. Within valuable life lessons that involve their teachers, neighbors, friends, and some not-so-friendly classmates and peers, Emma and Ken learn about kindness, healthy habits, confidence, body boundaries, the importance of helping others, and the Golden Rule. Through the included anecdotes and poems, parents are guided to be proactive instead of reactive, to listen, and most of all, to unconditionally love their children, every day and no matter what.
Poetic Parenting is a delightful book of stories and poems that engages children and guides parents on the rewarding, challenging, and always changing journey of raising wonderful kids.
About the Author
Farrah M. Walters is a high school language arts teacher who earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. She is passionate about reading and writing. Farrah resides in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and pet snail. Poetic Parenting is her first book.