I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn
honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your
own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope
nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see
puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a
black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a
bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a
line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the
covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want
to see a movie and your little brother wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live
in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a
ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you
won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a sling shot, I hope your Dad
teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to
use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a
girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap
tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on
a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once,
but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or
a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandpa
and go fishing with your Uncle. May you feel sorrow at a funeral
and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when
you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window
and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when
you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times
and disappointment, hard work and happiness.
To me, its the only way to appreciate life.