Sahabatku,

Ketika ada orang yang selalu pandai mencela dan menemukan kekurangan orang lain....

Saya jadi teringat tulisan yang pernah dibuat oleh seorang pendidik, Dorothy Law Nolte

bahwa kemungkinan besar saat dia msh anak2 ia sering di cela dan kurang mendapatkan pujian dari orang tua dan lingkungannya.

Sehingga ketika dewasa ia menjadi seperti ini.

Jika kita kebetulan pernah mengalami hal ini dan sekarang jadi seperti ini...., mari kita berusaha untuk mengubahnya, agar kelak anak-anak kita mewarisi hal yang sama dari kita.

-ayah mukidi-

Berikut isi puisi lengkapnya:

 Children Learn What They Live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Jika di terjemahkan secara singkat dan sederhana kira-kira inti pesannya seperti ini:

"Anak belajar dari kehidupan. Anak belajar dari apa yang dialaminya sejak kecil. Anak akan meniru apa yang dilihat dan didengarnya dari lingkugannya, terutama dari orang tuanya.