If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd finger-paint more and point the fingers less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting,
I'd take my eyes off my watch and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more,
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites,
I'd stop playing serious and seriously play,
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd more hugging and less tugging,
I'd build self-esteem first and the house later,
I would be firm less often and affirm much more,
I'd teach less about the love of power and more about the power of love.