Sometimes, as I lay in my bed late at night

I find myself thinking of times yet to come

I’m sure we all do it, though we may try to fight

But my brain wonders “What will my children become?”

I picture their school days, their friends and their lives

All the days when they’re older – when men, fully grown

I imagine their interests, their families and wives

(Though I hope they’ll be happy even if they’re alone)



But as I lay thinking, about my grown boys

I realise, there’s only one thing that they need

Only one thing I hope, that’ll give me such joy

But they’ll only learn this, when they see how we lead

It’s isn’t a ‘life skill’, it’s not ‘be well rounded’

It isn’t a language, a grade or a sport

It isn’t a trick that will leave you dumbfounded

And it certainly isn’t traditionally ‘taught’

It’s something that should help them later in life

When meeting new people, or finding some work

It’ll help them when finding a partner or wife

And ensure people don’t think my sons are both jerks.

Of course, I want both of my boys to do well

I’ll help them to get there however I might

I’ll help them with Maths, and I’ll help them to spell

I’ll give them advice, show them how to do right

But the one thing I want, for both of my sons

The thing that I crave when I look in their eyes

The thing that I desperately hope they’ll become

Is quite simple – I just want my sons to be nice

I want to be sat with my boys at the table

In twenty years time, with their mother and me

We’ll see all our family, whenever we’re able

And I hope that my boys will be good company

It might not be easy – though they’re always a pleasure

And who knows if they’ll get there quickly or not?

But niceness is really quite easy to measure

They’re people we want to spend time with a lot.

So as I lay dozing, as I stare at the ceiling

I plan for the future, both the sunshine and clouds

But thankfully, I’ve got a very good feeling

That both boys will make me incredibly proud