If I Were to Rule the World

What to throw away and what to keep? That is always a very difficult question for me. I would keep everything that remotely has any sentimental value if I could! Maybe it is because I feel that I don’t have many close relationships in my life, so those that I have, I treasure with every breath. Often “things” remind me of those priceless relationships. And that is where I get into trouble; there is not enough room in my house to keep every “thing” (i.e. ticket stub, program, special little gift, my child’s crayon drawings, etc.) Hmmm, I’m sure there is probably some psychological term for what I have.

Soooo, I was weeding through a stack of my son’s old school papers recently, trying to make more space up in our attic. The box I was going through had his school papers from 2009, when he was in 7th Grade. As I glanced through the numerous papers that still smelled like school, I ran into this jewel, a poem he wrote in English. I love this poem, because it captures the essence of who he was at age 13. Before I share this, I will give you a bit of background information to help you understand the poem better:

1. We had moved our son to a new middle school that year because his grades had dropped so much at his last school. He really didn’t like being at this new school and hated feeling the consequences of life.

2. He really didn’t like this English teacher.

3. He has always been a child that wanted to be an adult “now!” Thus, there were often power struggles between him and his teachers or parents—especially regarding homework.

4. He thought I watched too much Oprah on TV!

5. He was frustrated that we were only a one-income family (I was a stay-at-home-mom at that time) and he wished we more money to buy all the fancy toys so many of his other friends had. (But he did agree, having me home was better than having the extra money for the toys.)

6. My husband and I were older when we had him. I often felt a tinge of sadness from him that we were older and often more tired than his friend’s younger parents.

So, with that explanation, here is my 13 year old son's poem.

If I Were to Rule the World

If I were in charge of the world,
I’d cancel class, essays, English assignments,
And also pointless talk shows.

If I were in charge of the world,
There’d be reduced school,
Immense forests,
And pennies would be thicker than nickels.

If I were in charge of the world,
You wouldn’t have slow drivers.
You wouldn’t have people grow old.
You wouldn’t have green food.
Or, you wouldn’t have people telling you to say “thank-you”.
You wouldn’t even have manners.

If I were in charge of the world,
A bike would be an automobile.
All taxes would be paid by the government.
And a person who sometimes forgot to do something you’re expected to do,
And sometimes forgot to go straight to their seat when told to,
Would still be allowed to be
In Charge of the World.

The child that wrote this poem is now gone. He has been replaced by a very confident, charming 15 year old young man. Someone that has over the past two and a half years learned the rules of this world-- to become more in charge of his world. Amazing how much a just couple of years can make.

This poem will now go back in the box that lives up in the attic. I wonder when I pull it out next time, how much more of a difference I will see in my son? Whatever the changes are, I know I will always love him for who he is.