If Our Children Poem by Randy McClave

If our children curse
It is because of one or both of us,
When they swear and use profanity
It's all because they heard us cuss.
If our children drink or smoke
Or chew tobacco as we would forbid,
They do it, with an moral acceptance
It is because, we did.

Because of us they learnt to walk
As they copied what they saw,
Then because of us they learned to talk
As they heard us call.

If our children are racists
It is because they see and hear how we act
And if they mock another person's religion or belief
It's all because we see them as fact.
If our children are bullies
And if they believe they are better then someone else
That is because that is how they were taught
And they never felt the belts.

Because of us they learnt to think
As they heard our many thoughts,
Then they saw and heard us judge
As we drew lots.

If our children have tattoos
It is because we have or allow them as well,
If our children don't believe in sin
Well, it's because we never told them about hell.
If our children ever lie or cheat
It's because what they have seen or heard us say,
If our children don't want to be like us
They pack up their bags, then they move away.

Randy L. McClave