The Most Important Job of Your Life

As a parent - mother or father - our greatest legacy is our children. Any influence we have past our own life - will likely persist through our children.

Greater than any job we might ever have, and I bet if you asked President Obama he'd answer the same, being a parent (can) be the most important job of your life. Ensuring our children thrive then, is crucial to the health and future of our country.

My husband recently was sitting in the local Toyota dealership where we get our Prius serviced, and he heard the lyrics to this song. He later emailed me the lyrics, and I keep them in my "Perspectives Folder" in my Outlook Inbox. Whenever I need a booster shot to remind me what is most important in life, I visit my "Perspectives Folder."

Here are the lyrics, set to a tune probably familiar to most everyone (at least in my generation and older):

Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin

A child arrived just the other day,

He came to the world in the usual way.

But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away.

And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.

You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon.

"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then.

You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.

He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.

Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."

And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed, Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.

You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon.

"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then.

You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day, So much like a man I just had to say, "Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"

He shook his head, and he said with a smile, "What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.

See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon.

"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then, dad.

You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.

I called him up just the other day.

I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."

He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.

You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu, But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.

It's been sure nice talking to you."

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me, He'd grown up just like me.

My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon.

"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then, dad.

You know we'll have a good time then."

*Photo of my second son at 5 months, having a great time during this photo shoot.