I read this on someone's blog who got it off another site...
I just think it is worth sharing
How much is your time worth?
December 12, 2008
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: ‘Daddy, may I ask you a question?’
DAD: ‘Yeah sure, what it is?’ replied the man.
SON: ‘Daddy, how much do you make an hour?’
DAD: ‘That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?’ the man said angrily.
SON: ‘I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?’
DAD: ‘If you must know, I make $50 an hour.’
SON: ‘Oh,’ the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: ‘Daddy, may I please borrow $25?’
The father was furious, ‘If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don’t work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.’
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn’t ask for money very often The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
‘Are you asleep, son?’ He asked.
‘No daddy, I’m awake,’ replied the boy.
‘I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier’ said the man. ‘It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $25 you asked for.’
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. ‘Oh, thank you daddy!’ he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.
‘Why do you want more money if you already have some?’ the father grumbled.
‘Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,’ the little boy replied.
‘Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.’
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.
http://www.imaginif.com.au/how-much-is-your-time-worth/
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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Its very sad. Unfortunately the realities of todays markets mean that lots of people are working long hours for companies that a are farther away from home.
ReplyDeleteyeah, i know. My uncle works in a different country to his family, who live in India, and only comes back to visit once every two years. My aunt, his wife, works early in the morning to evening and my cousins get tutoring after school till nearly 7 o' clock which is basically a necessity in India to do well.
ReplyDeleteI just think this is something we should at least think about; and that we should try to make family time, even as a teenager I feel family time is important, although I'll admit it barely exists for us these days, which would have a lot to do with me...
Very True and very sad, Without time in the family,children will turn to other things for comfort. The family is supposed to teach them the truths about life but instead most of the parents are way too busy "providing" for them.
ReplyDeleteThat was a cool story. Unfortunately, my father and I are estranged. Five months and counting. My mother see each other quite often, though. I never feel like I have to buy her time.
ReplyDeleteMichael.
Michael, well that's always good to hear with your mum (:
ReplyDeletethat's sad about you and your father, but I read some of your posts about the matter, like your letter to him... did he ever get to see that?
I guess that some good can come out of it though, knowing what it's like on the flip side, I'm sure when your turn comes to be a father you will do your best and not let the same thing happen. Even if you're worried that you may let the same thing happen again, a generation later, I'm not sure how you feel about it.
I know I worry that I will have the same relationship with any possible future daughter as I do with my mum, but with role reversal of course; while we don't have the worst relationship, it's certainly not all it could be. I know as a mother I'll make my own mistakes, every parent will, but I'll already know certain mistakes I can avoid....
/losing focus on any point I may have intended to make, i will end here