School Counseling

IN WHICH HOUSE DO YOU LIVE IN? 

a poem by Vivian Merriman

"I GOT TWO A'S" THE SMALL BOY SAID

HIS VOICE WAS FILLED WITH GLEE.

HIS FATHER VERY BLUNTLY ASKED,

"WHY DIDN'T YOU GET THREE?"

"MOM, I'VE GOT THE DISHES DONE",

THE GIRL CALLED FROM THE DOOR.

HER MOTHER CALMLY ASKED,

"DID YOU SWEEP THE FLOOR?"

"I MOWED THE GRASS", THE TALL BOY SAID,

"AND PUT THE MOWER AWAY."

HIS FATHER ASKED HIM WITH A SHRUG,

"DID YOU CLEAN OFF THE CLAY?"

THE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR

SEEMED HAPPY AND CONTENT.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED OVER THERE,

BUT THIS IS HOW IT WENT.

"I GOT TWO A'S" THE SMALL BOY SAID.

HIS VOICE WAS FILLED WITH GLEE.

HIS FATHER PROUDLY SAID, "THAT'S GREAT,

I'M GLAD YOU BELONG TO ME!"

"MOM, I'VE GOT THE DISHES DONE,"

THE GIRL CALLED FROM THE DOOR.

HER MOTHER SMILED AND SOFTLY SAID,

"EACH DAY I LOVE YOU MORE."

"I MOWED THE GRASS,"THE TALL BOY SAID, 

"AND PUT THE MOWER AWAY."

HIS FATHER ANSWERED WITH MUCH JOY,

"YOU'VE MADE MY DAY HAPPY."

CHILDREN DESERVE PRAISE

FOR THE TASKS THEY'RE ASKED TO DO.

IF THEY'RE TO LEAD HAPPY LIVES,

SO MUCH DEPENDS ON YOU!