A touching story (old but still gets me everytime)

[Dario]

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door..

"Daddy, may I ask you a question?"

"Yeah sure, what is it?" replied the man.

"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"

"That's none of your business.. Why do you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.

"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"

If you must know, I make $100 an hour."

"Oh," the little boy replied, with his head down.

"Daddy, may I please borrow $50?"

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 $50 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 $50 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 saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and 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 $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

 

[cowchaser]

Very touching. To be truthful I probably am the same way towards my own kids. Guess maybe I should look at what's really important.

 

[low_48]

I know I neglected my son when he was very young. I was in the middle of running my own business and working 6, sometimes 7 days a week. This is one of my biggest regrets in my life. I've tried to make it up, he knows it. My daughter got a better deal since they are 4 years apart in age.
This also reminds me of some reading I did on the raising of a family. Children should really be raised by a tribe. Parents are usually much too immature and too busy with providing to raise kids. Elders that are much wiser, and patient, should be around for the hugs, wiping tears, and teaching.

 

[Daniel]

I am blessed that my work has never interfered with my time with my kids. I agree with the more mature being needed to help out when children are young. That time has the most regrets for me as a parent, simply not taking enough time or being impatient. But now that my children are older we are all very close. My son considers me to be his best friend. and I spend a lot of time playing and working with them. I once read that the average father only spends 15 minutes a week with there children. I figure I spend about 12 weeks with my kids every night.