Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World

I don’t need a room of my own
piled with everything money can buy
I need hugging and loving and feeling loved
I don’t need to be yelled at
I need soft words of encouragement
I don’t need to be kicked and beaten
I need to feel safe and secure
I am a child with tears in my eyes
Looking at Mum and Dad saying goodbye
Not understanding why
We had to go our separate ways
They were dark days
What damage to three souls
who once loved each other
How does a child begin to understand
why love goes away
How does this child, who feels so unloved
now receive love, believe in love
without doubt, without fear, without trust

There are children everywhere, all over the world
in our country, in our community…
crying, dying, hungry for food and for love
What are we doing to our children
What are we not doing
What can we do

What are we doing to our children
Our future, their future
We’d better start listening
We all need to be listened to
especially the children
We need to know that what they have to say is of value
We’d better start doing something
Our children are already crying out for attention
in the most negative way, can’t you hear them
They’re miserable, they’re unhappy, they’re sick
They’re aggressive and they’re committing acts of
violence, or they’re taking their own lives
When are we going to sit up and take notice
You cannot continue to ignore
The whispers - listen
You cannot continue to ignore
the messages - hear them
You cannot continue to ignore the signs - see them


You cannot continue to mask the symptoms
You cannot ignore what is going on in your head
You are in turmoil, because you’re not listening or hearing

Listen to the whispers
Hear the messages
See the signs.
When are we going to accept responsibility?
The children need our direction and guidance
our love and support
We are the parents, the grandparents, our families and friends
We are the first teachers and we have been charged with the responsibility
of the miracle of new life
Let’s not shy away from our responsibility and priority
Let’s face this with all our strength and love
We created this new life, we cannot walk away
These little people are looking to us for
their basic human rights and needs
And we’d better look after them

Get to know them, know where they are, who their friends are
Bring them home, supervise them, play with them, have fun with them
Be with them
Teach them, educate them
Feed their minds with knowledge
Feed their bodies with wholesome nutritious food
Empower them, so they may make informed choices
Teach them independence, responsibility
Encourage them to use their leisure time
productively and creatively
To contribute toward the running of the household
And to take part in the community
To be of service to those unable to help themselves
To be compassionate, thoughtful and respectful
toward those other than themselves and their own needs
Let us guide them on their way to a healthy
balanced, fulfilling life experience


Life is a never-ending circle, we all take a turn
at looking after each other, we look after the young
And they in turn, will be looking after you and I
We’d better teach them well
Teach them to be proud of who they are
To stand tall, to be assertive, confident in communicating
Asking for help when needed
Inviting others to share opinions and support
Teach them to know themselves, that they
have the freedom of choice


That they have the power to choose and not to give away that power
Teach them to love themselves, to believe in themselves,
in their individuality, their values and belief system,
their integrity, never to doubt it
To stand and be proud

When a child knows they are loved, they know what love feels like,
how love can give them confidence and trust
how happy it makes you feel
How any challenge can be overcome within a loving, trusting, relationship
Love doesn’t hurt, it nurtures to encourage our young to try anything with
confidence in the knowledge that they are loved and supported always
Guiding them in any endeavour they may wish to experience in their
Journey on the earth plane

As you would care for a flower bud
Preparing to burst forth in full bloom
we must nurture our young to achieve their individual potential
Giving them the requirements they need on their way to adulthood
Confident that we have made a contribution toward building a
less aggressive society

Secure in the knowledge that we have given of our best
A firm foundation on which they can build their lives
That together we have reached a state of mutual respect and trust
And that their journey as a human on the earth plane will be
one filled with love for their fellow man
That love will overcome all obstacles
That love is the answer where it seems there is none
That love is everything
That peace of mind, compassion, acceptance and love for each other
and everyone of us, will begin to build a less aggressive society.

We reiterate, love is the only answer, the most basic need of all humanity
is to care for one another, to be concerned for someone other than yourself
As we are all connected, we cannot live without each other
As we need nutritious food to sustain and maintain good health
We all need to love and nurture our spirit and our soul
To be at peace with oneself
When we give love, we give to ourselves at least as much as we give to one another
A smile, a hug, an interest in another’s welfare is a present to you
as well as giving to one another
the warmth one receives from any expression of love
will lift your spirits higher and leave you
feeling fulfilled
So put aside your differences, meet on the common ground of unconditional love, compassion, consideration and respect
We are all different

Accept and acknowledge that difference,
Each of you have your own truth
and it can bring healthy informed debate
Listen to each other
Be open to others opinions and views, you may even learn something

We know you are doing your best with the knowledge you have
And we will continue to guide you
You need only to ask to make room in your heart and soul for our teachings
and our presence to take you where you need to be
as you progress and continue your learning
You can be tolerant, understanding and supportive in your dealings with the
children of today
They will be the adults and the leaders of tomorrow


MAUREEN WEST