I Want A Perfect Child

I want a child who gets up early and goes to bed before nine o'clock. I want a child who has few likes and dislikes in what she eats; one who eats carrot and beans. It is a good child who never complaints if only corn flakes and milk are served at breakfast, when my wife can't afford enough time for preparation.
It is also a good child who goes to the bathroom after each meal in order to brush her teeth before my telling her to do so, and carefully brushes each portion of her teeth more than 50 times.

I want to have a child who says "itte-kimasu" cheerfully to us when he/she goes out to school in the morning, and says "tadaima" in high sprits, leaving and returning home, which are, I believe, a good tradition in Japan.

I want to have children who don't often want to go to TOYS'R'US. Even when we go there to buy something, hopefully they only want to buy a small bear under twelve dollars.
I want a child who is quite pleased, saying in a loud voice, "This is exactly what I wanted, but I wonder how you knew what I wanted?" when she is given a Christmas present. When we go to a restaurant, a perfect child is supposed to ask me, " Is there a Kids Menu here?"

When I have a quarrel with my wife, I expect my child to support my side and to tell my wife that I am not wrong. When my child has trouble or a hardship in school or with her friends. I expect her to come to me and frankly ask me for my suggestions and opinions, as far as the troubles are not beyond my ability to deal with.
At the same time, when I am depressed with my failure in my job, or with conflicts against my superiors, I hope the perfect child carefully listens to what I am talking about and provides encouragement to me together with the suggestions and ideas leading to solutions.

Going back to my actual family, however, my two daughters at the ages of seven and eight years are far from my perfect children in many respects. I wonder who is to be blamed, and who is responsible for this?

I would like to attribute it to Mr. Bush. But, I can't. I hope Mr. Clinton will be responsible for this. Of course he will not.
Am I responsible? Yes, I have to say, "Yes, I am." So, I understand that I was not the kind of father who gives them absolutely virtuous and rigid discipline. So, I know I must make up my mind to become a good father and be stern in teaching manners to the naughty children.

I love my daughters even though they usually don't eat carrots, even though they often complain. Because they sometimes plead with us for the various toys, I like them. Because they sometimes brush their teeth only fifteen times, I need to scold them.

God, I pray to you that my daughters will not be assigned a homework of composition on " What is A Perfect Father?" Or they may get to know I am far from being so. What I am afraid is that they will someday strike back by showing me, "What Is A Perfect Father?"

Just think of a family with a perfect father and mother, and perfect children. What a perfect family it is!
But, imagine how dreadfully dull such a family would be if everybody were so perfect. Now, it is really wonderful and comfortable that none of my family members is perfect.