The happiness in my son’s eyes

Buy __ for your children and witness

The joy on their faces priceless

This advice was given to me recently

As I tried to navigate rather unsuccessfully

Giving in to my son’s wants versus giving a lesson

About the value of money and delayed gratification

I have not decided which way to go

My child would be pleased, I know

If he got what he wanted, but that is not the way

I want him to experience happiness anyway

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Let your child work hard at a skill, be competitive

Encourage him to excel and give

Your unconditional support, and when success he achieves

Let him bask in the glory of the accolades he receives

The joy of success in his eyes you would like to see

As his proud mother obviously-

I cannot but agree with this sentiment

But letting him be happy only when he succeeds is also not my intent

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In the ideal world I would like my child to be happy

When he puts in his best effort, regardless of what the result happens to be

When he does something that benefits someone

Without expecting anything in return

When he earns enough to satisfy his needs desires

But does not tie his happiness to what he acquires

I want him to be the best person that he can be

And then the happiness in his eyes I want to see