folded wisdom

I'm sorry I hurt your big toe! I hope you forgive me! I hope it doesn't hurt too much. I love you!

I'm sad that you left your good glove in an apple orchard. I wish that hadn't happened but it did. I hope you will be more careful with your next glove. I love you!

Yesterday you did a hurtful thing. My hope is that you understand this. My hope is that now the door is open and love can move freely again.

I hope you find a way to say how you feel. You will be so much happier!

Theo when you want something ask for it - don't make everyone guess what you would like. You might not always get what you want but a lot of times you will. Plus then other people will know what you like or don't like and we will give you what you like sometimes without you asking us. We all want to help you and make you happy - we love you so much. Help us make you happy by using words to tell us about you.

Did I yell at you last night? (Yes I did.) Am I sorry I did? (You bet I am.) Am I human? Do I make mistakes? (Yes I am, Yes I do.) I'm not God Theo - no one is. I'm only a man who's trying to be a good father. I love you the way you are and I want to help you be the best you can be. Will you help me too?

Five minutes extra. Did those five minutes really make you that angry - so angry that you wouldn't do your homework last night? I'm sorry for asking you to leave when the class was over. You are a part of our family and your family needed to get home. Sometimes you have to do things that you don't want to because the group you're in wants to. You have a choice. You can go along with it and make the best of it or you can ruin the rest of the night for you and your friends. Mr. Chips said... "Have a sense of proportion." He's right!

I apologize for being frustrated last night and taking it out on you. I came home feeling hassled and a little out of control. I wanted time with my family but the time was gone and I got upset because of that. Getting upset only drove my family away - the opposite of what I wanted. I'm sorry Theo! I love you.

Everyone makes mistakes. All of us do sometimes. Sometimes the mistakes we make only hurt ourselves. Sometimes our mistakes hurt other people. When my mistakes hurt me I'm sorry. When my mistakes hurt someone else I'm really sorry. That's all I want to say besides I love you!

I hope you had a good day today Theo. Try not to be so angry. I love you.

First - I just want to say I apologize for getting upset and blaming you for making a mess last night. I was to blame as well - it wasn't your fault. Second - I want to say we all make mistakes and it's important that we forgive each other and just as important that we forgive ourselves. Third - I hope you have fun when you go to see the play this afternoon. It's always fun to get out of class but then watch, listen and enjoy the show. Fourth - I hope the history quiz is OK. Maybe you could prepare a little more on the bus back to school? Fifth - I love you!

I'm sorry I trapped you in the car on the way to school yesterday and bombarded you with my concern. It's hard for me to communicate my thoughts and feelings in appropriate ways. Maybe I should just stick to notetaking? I know you think that you work pretty hard - you just have to keep asking yourself - "Do I really understand what I need to do well? Can I do anything else to help myself do better? Have I really given myself the best chance to do my best?" If the answers are yes, no and yes, then great - if not, then it's back to work. Simple!