My children are fortunate
Though they don’t know what that is…
I found myself explaining this to them
The other day while telling them
Not to waste water
I doubt I was ever told that
Growing up with my family
For if ever I turned on the tap
It was to see if water was running
There was no water to waste…
My children are fortunate
Though they are too little to understand it
Especially when I explain to them
That food (yucky veggies or not)
Should be finished completely
None ever wasted or tossed away
I was never told about wasting food
For if ever the issue of food came up
It was to see if it would be enough for us all
Times were hard back then
And so food had to be managed
There wasn’t enough for any to be wasted
I am thankful for those times
So whenever I tell the children
Not to waste
I doubt they understand me
But I understand me and where I am coming from
So I can’t help but conclude
They are very fortunate…
And I am ever thankful
Boomie Bol 
My mother counts us more fortunate too 🙂
You narrated a mother’s feelings pleasantly.
-Naima.
Thank you so much Naima :). I guess mommies are all the same lol
Yeah, they are.. lol.
-Naima.
Well said–thanking you. They might be too small to understand now, but they will learn from your example.
Thank you Susan. Sometimes they look at me like this crazy woman is mumbling something again in that strange language lol…
It is my prayer they understand 🙂
They will. My mother was a depression baby–and I still have encoded in my mind not to waste food, water, or electricity 😉
I beautiful representation in words of a mother’s love in action. Thank you. xx
Thank you so much Red. Half the time they just laugh not quite getting what i am saying.
I have become the garbage can at home, eating all their left overs.
Thank you! Hugs for a lovely and restful weekend!
You are a wonderful mother and they may not understand now but they will as long as you keep telling and showing, perhaps it is time to think about how they can help those less fortunate, I started with my girls when they were around 3 weeding out toys and outgrown clothing especially clpse to birthdays and christmas. it worked until they were old enough to help serve at the kitchens or visit elderly etc. may be that is why 2 out of 3 went into medical field hmmm a ponder on that one LOL Love ya Boomie ((Hugs))
Wonderful idea!!! I will see about that for them. Thanks so much, and love ya as well. Big hugs for a restful Saturday.
Thanks for this wonderful comment and the idea in it
Gosh – are we ever so fortunate & our kids even more-so.
Your daughters will naturally realize that. They have you as their mom 😉
Yes we are :). I hope and pray so too. Have a great Saturday twinnie
I, fortunately, never had to live through such times while growing up, though when I didn’t finish something on my plate I was always told to think of all the starving children in…. There were several years, when trying to make it on my own that I did worry about food. And clothes. And a place to stay. Thank you for the reminder that you should never take what you have for granted.
Thank you so much sir. Yes sometimes it’s so easy to take our many blessings for granted, yet we are not more deserving than those who don’t have.
I always try to think of the starving kids too when i find i am about to indulge in gluttony or wastefulness.
Have a great weekend, and thank you always!!!
beautiful, from the heart–I do not take things for granted either–due to some things that have happened in my life — and we should try to teach that to our children as you are
Thank you so much.
Growing up, i hated those times…sometimes i wanted a rich family lol. These days, i look back and i am thankful for those times…i think they help us to be stronger, better, and more adaptable, well adjusted people.
Thank you so much
and compassionate 🙂
Oh absolutely :)!
Very similar to somethings my Mom tell me when Im home… 🙂
The kids might not know that we are growing in a world were resources are depleting quite fast but they will, someday… Nice one, Boomie.
Thank you Manu
Inspiring words…Thank you!!!
Thank you always for reading
glad your children are in a better place.
Yes sir!!! Thank you
interesting with food in the US, unless you make portions small, be careful you don’t condition them to overeating, which seems to be the food issue here.
Absolutely!!! One of them is not a big eater, and the other is sold on only certain foods…so when you give them what they don’t like they think it’s best to empty it all in the garbage…
I try not to give them 2nd helpings too often i let them eat with me.
Cool and reflective!
Thank you so much, and i appreciate your stopping by
I feel lucky to have at least two pairs of shoes and running water and bed sheets — luxuries.
Dare i say, you and i are like millionaires then :). Luxuries indeed!!!
That’s a very lovely poem, all natural resources should be used judiciously.
Absolutely, considering some people don’t have the “luxury”. Thanks much for reading
They will understand one day why you say those things. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you but I’m glad things are better now. And now you can be grateful. 🙂
Thanks Lily. I look back now and credit my parents really, through it all they were amazing…they did without just so we could have. I am glad those times are over…things are not perfect but they are getting better. Thanks again sister girl :). Have a lovely evening
You’re absolutely right. I feel the same, but they don’t understand.
I know, how blessed are they. Thank God is all we can say i guess
This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you sir for reading.
Oh this was just amazing to read boomie — you captures so much here ~ the gap …the space between us and our children. They may not truly understand….but I think on some level they process this, and they appreciate…and they love and learn as they grow. It’s an evolutionary thing — your writing style here is simply perfect for this piece xxoo Much Love ~ Robyn
Thank you so much Robyn. Yes i guess like you said as they grow they love and learn. I pray they do! Thank you so much, you are ever so gracious and sweet. Hope you are having a rest filled and lovely weekend.
They are the fortunate ones, but you are even more fortunate for knowing the difference. I’m sure by the time they grow up, you’ll have taught them well!
Thank so much Resa, i hope so too.
Absolutely Boomie! Sometimes I worry that my grandkids are too fortunate.
Yes, their generation is so blessed beyond words, and i can’t help but smile and wonder in amazement.
Beautifully written. They will some day understand, but not in the same way you do by God’s grace I.e. not from 1st hand knowledge.
Amin Jesu. Thanks Yemi 🙂
this is beautiful Boomie! We believe children are too little to understand, but your words will stick, and grow up to be thankful, just as you are.
Thanks Patricia,
Yea i think teaching, and showing them values, morals, and all that good stuff from a young age will make a lasting impact.
Beautiful words.
I think your children, are very fortunate to have you as a mother. Your, experience, wisdom and kindness, will all place them well in this world. I hope as they get older, they may understand how truly fortunate they are.
For now, I count myself as fortunate, that you share your words with us.
Love to you ♡
Elyn,
Thank you so much for these kind words. I am learning as i go along the way i think, but i am glad i am finally coming into my own after many years of not “getting it” I hope i am the great mom they so deserve.
I am so glad i get to interact with kind angels like you. Thanks dear one. Love and hugs
You are very talented 🙂
You are too kind Matt :). Thank you sir !
I too am thankful and fortunate that I had to go without a lot in my childhood. Without those experiences, how can you truly appreciate the things you have now?
Once again, beautiful poetry!
Absolutely true! I wish i realized it back then and even until a few years ago…all the same i agree those times help us appreciate what we do have now. Thanks always Jill, always nice “seeing” you here :).
I remember in secondary school how we were punished for leaving food on our plates. I guess coming from a country like Nigeria, you learn from an early age how precious food, water, shelter and electricity are since many of us never had them constantly. I really like this.
I agree, it was so hard to waste food in secondary school because it was never enough lol…even those terrible foods were eaten with such happiness. Thanks Eniola, glad you enjoyed this.
It’s good that your children be grateful too. Today the value of not wasting things, of valuing all things and all people and all creatures is more important than ever.
I agree. It is my prayer that they learn, understand, and know gratitude. Thanks
Wonderful mother.
Swwet you :). As are you Cestone, as are you
Very nicely written. If all of us were as conscious as the kind of mother you are, no one would have to go hungry or thirst for those precious drops.It is such a sad truth that we have not internalised the concept of consuming less and conserving. I guess necessity will take us there soon.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I sure hope we would learn to better manage all of our resources.
Reblogged this on shafiqah1 and commented:
Yes, we heard a litany of hit the light switch, turn the water off wen you brush your teeth, close the window: you are wasting heat etc. Being poor makes one almost good at going green and being a conservationist. Clothes get passed around, much is shared or revamped. Nice one Boomie 😉
Thank you so much my friend for the reblog :), and the wonderful comment here
So true. It took me a long time to realise that being poor was actually a more environmentally sustainable way of living. It all depends on how you look at it, I guess, as to whether ‘not wasting’ is a good or bad thing…
I agree, i think now that i am a bit older, i can appreciate those times. Thanks Alarna
I just learnt more reading this, thank you!
Thank you 🙂 sis!