Valuable Time

Do you spend time with your children ? Do you spend the time you want with your children ? Do you spend the time your children want with them ? This is not my story, I do not know who's story it is, but it is beautiful, and if you love your children then read it. This time the story is for you, mommy and/or daddy, hope it makes you think a bit on the importance of time and the value of your time.

"Papi, may I ask you a question?", asked the Little Girl.
"Yes Little Girl, what is it?", answered Papi.
"Papi, how much money do you make an hour?", asked the Little Girl.
"That is complicated. Why do you want to know?", answered Papi.
"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much money do you make an hour?", insisted the Little Girl.
"If you must know, I make 100 an hour.", answered Papi.
"Oh!", replied the Little Girl with her head down, "Papi, can I borrow 50?"

"If you asked me just to borrow money to buy a silly toy, chocolate or other candy, then you must go straight to your room. I work hard everyday for the money, you can't just think in toys or candy."
The Little Girl went to her room and shut the door.
Papi sat down and started to get even angrier about the little girl's questions. How dare she ask such questions only to get some money?
After a while Papi calmed down and started to think:
Maybe there was something the Little Girl really needed to buy with the 50. The Little Girl didn't ask for money, she asked for things. Papi went to the door of the Little Girl's room and opened the door, "Are you asleep Little Girl?"
"No Papi, I am awake", said the Little Girl.
"Sorry for being angry Little Girl, I was tired and was bad to you. Here is the 50 you wanted."
The Little Girl was happy and smiling, "Thank you Papi!"
Then the Little Girl went to her piggy bank and opened it. The Little Girl took out some money. Papi saw that the Little Girl already had money and started to get angry again. The Little Girl slowly counted her money, and then looked up at Papi.
"Why do you want more money if you already have some?", asked Papi.
"Because I needed more, and now I have it.", answered the Little Girl.
"Papi, 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."
Papi was crushed. He put his arms around his little daughter, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that 100 worth of your time with someone you love? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.

Some things are more important.

Flowers for Mommy

Do your children often have spontaneous acts of parent love ? Do you encourage your children to express their love ? Do you often express your love for your children ? When was the last time your children did something spontaneous for you ? How do you feel when they express themselves ? Hod do they show their love ? Tell me your story, here is mine...

"Papi, I want the watercolors!", asked the Little Girl.
"Why Little Girl?", asked Papi.
"I want to paint Mami, Papi and me".
"I like your paintings , they are getting better and better everyday", encouraged Papi.
"I also want paper, I want this white cards".
"And why is that ?", asked Papi.

"I want to make invitations for a party", answered the Little Girl.
"What party ?"
"A birthday party!", said the Little Girl.
"Whose birthday ?", asked Papi.
"Mami's birthday!"
"It is still a while for Mami's birthday."
"Let's take these flowers for Mami, she can smell the flowers and wait for the birthday!", suggested the Little Girl.
"That is a good idea, let's do that, let's take these flowers for Mami!".

Roses are Red...

How much are your children exposed to love ? Do you tell them frequently that you love them ? Do they say they love you ? Do you encourage them to express their fondness ? How do you express your love with your partner in front of them ? Are you keen on having joint moments together ? To what you say no so that you can be with your children ? Tell me your story, here is mine...

The Little Girl asked Papi to pick her up at kindergarten. It was nice to have Papi pick her up. And today was a special day, she did not know it when she told Papi. At the kindergarten the Little Girl and her friends learned how to make little paper hearts. Postcards in heart shape. They even used a doctor thingy to listen to the heart beating.

Papi appeared at the class door. "Papi, I made this heart for you, I love you!", said the Little Girl proudly to Papi. "I think you have been learning about Saint Valentin today!", answered Papi.
"Where is Mami ?", asked the Little Girl. "She is at school, let's pick her up", proposed Papi.
They went to pick up Mami at school. They stood both at the entrance. Papi was holding a rose, and the Little Girl was holding another heart postcard.
Mami came.
"I Love You!", said Papi to Mami.
"I Love you Mami!", said the Little Girl.

The Castle

What is it like to take your child to visit monuments ? Can they be still ? Do they run around the place ? Do they ask questions ? Are they in search for something ? Tell me your story.
Here is mine...

Papi was reading the story about the longest castle in Europe. A beautiful story about a beautiful castle, but what impressed more was the small modern village actually thriving and living between the castle walls. It's not everyday that you see the mailman passing along the street delivering mail to the small house along the castle walls. Something strange and paradoxical about the image, nevertheless with the charm of a small well preserved village.

The mailman had parked the bicycle near the fountain and was now delivering a small parcel to one of the traditional hoses. The plain white wall contoured by the wooden windows and doors, along with the wooden vases with the blooming pink and red flowers gave a touch of simplicity to the picture.

Nearby a tourist was taking pictures of the fountain while examining with great detail the engravings around the fountain. it told a story of a king in love, that everyday his subjects came to wish a wife for the king and threw a coin into the fountain.

Nearby we could see a small two story restaurant, it advertised a dish of roast boar cooked in the central fire pit located in the bottom story. The great walls seemed to contain and amplify the heat within the room, thus we get a feeling that it is now only the boar that is getting cooked. Everybody could feel the intensive heat that gave the meat that succulent taste by not drying the meat.

As we sat on the top story enjoying the roast boar we could see another paradoxical scene. We could see cloth lines in several small houses with modern clothes handing. Some pairs of jeans and colored t-shirts seemed quite out of place, but provided nevertheless a joyful color to the scene.