In a violent world, I am proud of my gentle son

[Taverner]

We never had to teach him how to pet a dog, or how to treat an animal. He knows how to be gentle, soft and comforting to any animal he meets. When we were over at my friends' house, he wanted to meet the cat. This cat is scared of everyone - but after an hour he and the cat are sleeping on the couch next to each other.

And at 8, he's already picked up wisdom that at his age I was blind to. For example, we were talking about Bin Laden. He asked "Why is Bin Laden a bad guy?"

We told him about 9/11, and the 3,000 people who died that day. He thinks about it for a minute and then comes back with "but doesn't that make US the bad guys? Since we killed him?"

Also, when we were in SF, he asked us about the homeless people who were asking for money: "Why doesn't everyone get together, and give their extra money, the money they don't need, and use it to buy them homes?" Soon after that, he wanted to give one of his own dollars to a homeless person at a light (and did.)

I can be an angry person, but when he's angry, instead of yelling or getting violent, he does whatever he can do to make the situation better.

I hope my son stays gentle like this - the world needs more empathetic gentle people.

Sorry for bragging.

[WinkyDink]

1. I'd like to live long enough to vote for him.

[driver8]

2. Don't apologize for bragging!!

Your son sounds like a wonderful person...thank you for sharing this with us!!

[applegrove]

3. It is good to be gentle. But he needs to have boundaries too or all sorts of

contolling & stalking types will zero in on him. I'm sure you are teaching him that too. But still you are lucky to have a gentle soul in your midst.

[Taverner]

9. He knows that - he's a keen judge of character

And he's pretty good at Tae Kwon Do

[applegrove]

10. Wonderful. Sounds like a great all round kid.

[kimi]

4. Aw, thanks for sharing this

Yes, a son to be proud of. He will grow into a good man, the world needs all the souls like this it can get.

Thank you for raising such a good person. :)

[Flaxbee]

5. He sounds like a terrific kid ...

Kindness and gentleness are wonderful traits - seem to be on a recessive gene for mankind :) I hope he stays gentle, too. If he's as sensitive as he sounds, he - as he gets older and sees/hears/reads about more injustice, environmental degradation, etc. - may really need or want guidance on how to cope with it all. I think that's one of the hardest parts of being kind - the sorrow that comes along with empathy.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Good gene pool, no doubt.

The wonderful thing is his personality is pretty much intact by this age.

[Odin2005]

7. Your son is awesome!

[KT2000]

8. Go ahead and brag!

These are the people we need to hear about. It is too easy to become cynical and jaded but you have given us a reminder why we should not. What a great kid! Thanks for sharing.

[Taverner]

12. May nothing change him of this disposition

Empathy is becoming a rarer trait these days

[Demoiselle]

11. ...Your son was "born under a sweet star."

A lady from Iran said that about our son after she met him.
It certainly sounds like your guy merits the same comment.
Genuine human sweetness is so precious. All the best to you and your family.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

13. If only more parents could raise kids like yours.

:thumbsup:

I'm not saying it's always the parants' fault when things go badly, sometimes you do all you can and things can go wrong.

[blue neen]

14. The world could use more like your son.

:)

[Taverner]

15. That's what I think. Who knows? Maybe it's contagious!