Kids Don'T Know This Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this.

Commitment has never been an option given,
Not to those devoted to whatever it is...
They seek with a doing of it to accomplish.
And sometimes there is a bitterness,
Between siblings who are raised by parents...
Who introduce to them early a strong work ethic,
With a doing only to produce the best of their efforts.

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this.

An unconscious competition ensues,
To see who can out do the other.
And just to get an attention from the father or mother.
Without it realized...
Mom and dad are proud of all their offspring.
And often it is the parents who enjoy,
The attention 'given to 'them' THEY get!

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this.

And...
There is a rivalry with pointless arguments.
To be heard by parents loving every minute of it,
With a listening intently.
Then to pretend they can not stand,
Another moment of the nonsense to then say...
'One of you, and I will not say who,
Has proven to be smarter than the other.'

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this...
That what their parents choose to do,
To motivate them to succeed...
Is done with a consciousness and intentionally.

'My folks did 'everything' for them.
But as for me?
Whatever I had to do,
I did it on my own and alone! '

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this...
That what their parents choose to do,
To motivate them to succeed...
Is done with a consciousness and intentionally.

~Me too!
All my folks have ever done for me,
Was to pick up my kids after school.
Take care of them on weekends.
Feed and clothed them...
While I take time for myself,
From all the stress I have to live through...
EVERYDAY!
And then...believe it or not,
They act like THEY do me the favor!
Can you believe it? ~

'Same here.
My folks have a 'cushy' life as well.'

Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this...
But,
Many of them have it so good...
That to live the lives their parents had to live,
These 'kids' would be raising their own 'kids'...
And to do with a knowing of what being 'grown' is.

Although today? With KIDS living life,
To live it 'their' way...
Kids don't know this to notice it.
Kids do not notice to know this...
They've been made spoiled, inconsiderate,
And live without a reflective consciousness.

~My folks had the 'nerve' to tell me,
They would like some time for themselves.
AND to go on a vacation.
As if they are not on a vacation 'every-single-day.~

'Same here.
My folks have retired.
And one would think they would express more gratitude.
But NO!
I am providing them with something to do.
Not like my 'other' siblings,
Who 'only' call to ask them how they are doing.
And...to me?
That is the height of disrespect AND being selfish.'