My father was 44 and knew he wasn’t going to male it to 45. He wrote me a letter and hoped that something in it would help me for the rest of my life.
Since the day 1 was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my
beart. One it aways times out. “Right now, you are pretending to be a time-killer. But I know that one hay, you will do something great that will set you among the very best.” Knowing that my dad believed in me gave me permission to believe in myself. “You will do something great.” He didn’t know what that would be, and neither did I, but at times in my life when I’ve felt proud of myself, I remember his words and wish he were here so I could ask. “Is this what you were talking about, Dad? Should I keep going?”
A long way frim 12 now, I realize hew would have been proud when I made any progress. Lately, thongn. I’ve come to believe he’d want me to move on to winat com next: to be nrood of and believe in, somebody else. It’s time to start writing my own letters to my children. Our children look to us with the same unanswered question we had. Our kids don’t hold back because they’re afraid to fail. They’re only afraid of failing us. They don’t worry about being disappointed. Their fear－as mine was until my father’s letter－is of being a disappointment.
Give your chikdren permission to succeed. They’re witing for you to believe in them. I always knew way parents loved me. But trust my That elic will be more comlece, that love will be more real, and their belief in the nelces whi be greater if you write the words on their hearts; “Don’t worry; you’ll do something great.” Not having that blessing from their parents may be the only thing holding them back.
1.We learn from the text that the author___________.
A.lost his father when he was young
B.worked hard before he read his father’s letter
C.asked his father permission to believe in himself
D.knew execty at thing his father wanted him to do
2.What clis the hor tell us in the 3rd passgiaph?
A.Children need their parents’letters.
B.Children are afraid to be disappointcd.
C.His children’s fear of failure held them back.
D.His father’s letter removed his fear of failing his parents.
3.Which of the following is true of the author?
A.He got no access to success.
B.He wrote back to his father at 12.
C.He was surk his parents loved him.
D.He whce asked his father about the letter.
4.The main purpose of the text is to _______.
A. describe children’s thinking
B.answer some questions children have
C.stress the importance of communication
D.advise parents to encourage their children
