When I have kids,
If I have kids,
I want them to see me as I see my friends,
Fuck all of that “respect your elders” shit,
I won’t teach them to respect me; I’ll teach them the importance of respecting every single person on this planet
So, yes, that’ll include me,
But it’ll also include the girl who sits alone at lunch drawing her daydreams,
It’ll include the man they see wrapped up in blankets, dirty face and outstretched hands clutching a paper cup,
And, yes, it’ll also include the school bully,
The noisy neighbour nextdoor,
For wars are never won when respect is gone,
Not properly,
I’ll teach them to respect even the people that make them want to tear their hair out,
Respect them just enough to sit at a table and discuss with them why they must stop what they’re doing,
Respect them just enough that they don’t lose every ounce of hope,
So if they let their barriers down, they’re glad that they did so because my kids were the ones that listened when nobody else would,
And along with that, not above nor below,
I’ll teach them that they must respect themselves,
That means reaching out their hand to me, to their friends,
That means accepting every lump, bump, urge to jump,
Accepting that that’s just who they are and if it’s something they can change,
Then they must do it, for themselves,
If it makes them happy,
So, yes, I’ll teach them respect but not in the fucked up way our society does,
Not with shouting and shaming,
But with passion, explaining,
With love and respect like they one day will too.