As I read this, the Cat Stevens AKA Yusuf Islam song " Father & Son " went through my mind. & maybe " The Living Years " by a group in the States. It amazes me how a single thing can get memories flowing.
I'm glad you & your son had such an enjoyable time.
Thanks Dan and I know both those songs. I like them both too but in bringing up all my children the sentiment in those songs was something I wished to avoid. The strongest bit of advice I gave them all is don't wake up one day at the end of someone else's life.
A lovely piece, Harry. The greatest gift you can give your children is their independence.
'Geordie' - I thought this meant people from Newcastle only? My dad was adamant that Bobby Robson wasn't a Geordie; he was born in Sacriston, and grew up in Langley Park where he worked for my grandfather as a paper boy.
This is so full of heart and good feeling Harry, so often we hear of conflict between parents and their children, especially now with all that we knew so changed and high tech and connected but these words
« You instruct, guide, encourage, and caution in a child's earlier years. But there comes a time when a wise parent drops the instruction element. « are the best advice I would give too, let them make their mistakes, let them discover!!
Thank you so much for your very kind words Sue. They are much appreciated. At any age being a parent to me, means being ready to pick your children up, dust them off and set them off again. When toddlers it's after their tumbles, in later years when they stumble over life. I don't know if you've seen 'All of Us Strangers' but when I saw it yesterday I was so deeply moved in its tale of love and loss and parents and children. A beautifully told story.
I couldn’t agree more whole heartedly Harry... being a parent is a life long work of deep importance, the way we the way we go about that work will make all the difference to the child’s attitude to life, to love, respect, everything. I still dust off my 26 year old daughter on occasion, never with reprimand but always with joy that our relationship is close enough for her to confide in me in the first place, and my son, well only time will tell....
I have never seen that film but will be nipping over to google it immediately - thank you for the recommendation - enjoy your weekend.
What a great piece of writing! Yeah, with my daughter, it took me a while (perhaps a bit too long) to drop the “instruction element“ and it is sound advice. thanks Harry, I really enjoyed this.
As I read this, the Cat Stevens AKA Yusuf Islam song " Father & Son " went through my mind. & maybe " The Living Years " by a group in the States. It amazes me how a single thing can get memories flowing.
I'm glad you & your son had such an enjoyable time.
Thanks Dan and I know both those songs. I like them both too but in bringing up all my children the sentiment in those songs was something I wished to avoid. The strongest bit of advice I gave them all is don't wake up one day at the end of someone else's life.
That's a piece of advice for EVERYONE. I TRY to live every day as if it was my last, but it's very difficult to do.
" Life - It's not for the timid ".
A lovely piece, Harry. The greatest gift you can give your children is their independence.
'Geordie' - I thought this meant people from Newcastle only? My dad was adamant that Bobby Robson wasn't a Geordie; he was born in Sacriston, and grew up in Langley Park where he worked for my grandfather as a paper boy.
This is so full of heart and good feeling Harry, so often we hear of conflict between parents and their children, especially now with all that we knew so changed and high tech and connected but these words
« You instruct, guide, encourage, and caution in a child's earlier years. But there comes a time when a wise parent drops the instruction element. « are the best advice I would give too, let them make their mistakes, let them discover!!
I enjoyed this immensly!!
Thank you so much for your very kind words Sue. They are much appreciated. At any age being a parent to me, means being ready to pick your children up, dust them off and set them off again. When toddlers it's after their tumbles, in later years when they stumble over life. I don't know if you've seen 'All of Us Strangers' but when I saw it yesterday I was so deeply moved in its tale of love and loss and parents and children. A beautifully told story.
I couldn’t agree more whole heartedly Harry... being a parent is a life long work of deep importance, the way we the way we go about that work will make all the difference to the child’s attitude to life, to love, respect, everything. I still dust off my 26 year old daughter on occasion, never with reprimand but always with joy that our relationship is close enough for her to confide in me in the first place, and my son, well only time will tell....
I have never seen that film but will be nipping over to google it immediately - thank you for the recommendation - enjoy your weekend.
And you Susie
Lovely Harry, thanks for sharing and what a lovely tribute to Sir Bobby and Elsie Robson too.
Thanks Will
What a great piece of writing! Yeah, with my daughter, it took me a while (perhaps a bit too long) to drop the “instruction element“ and it is sound advice. thanks Harry, I really enjoyed this.
Thanks and I much appreciate your kind words.
Thanks Lynn and here's something I wrote on the subject of being a Geordie....
https://open.substack.com/pub/harrywatson/p/larn-yersel-geordie?r=1v4z4o&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post