You Have One Job Today

<p>Your job today as a father is to do one thing. It’s to read this poem, which dates back to 1895, and then to think about how to incorporate its lessons into how you <a href='https://dailydad.com/9-tips-on-how-to-raise-good-kids/?utm_source=sendfox&amp;utm_medium=sendfox&amp;utm_campaign=one-job-today'>raise your kids</a>. Ignore the gendered language (it was written as advice to the poet’s son) because it doesn’t matter. There isn’t <em>any</em> child, boy or girl, at any age who won’t benefit from this wisdom. </p><p>If— </p><p>BY RUDYARD KIPLING</p><p>If you can keep your head when all about you   </p><p>Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   </p><p>If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,</p><p>But make allowance for their doubting too;   </p><p>If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,</p><p>Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,</p><p>Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,</p><p>And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:</p><p><br/></p><p>If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;   </p><p>If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;   </p><p>If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster</p><p>And treat those two impostors just the same;   </p><p>If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken</p><p>Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,</p><p>Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,</p><p>And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:</p><p><br/></p><p>If you can make one heap of all your winnings</p><p>And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,</p><p>And lose, and start again at your beginnings</p><p>And never breathe a word about your loss;</p><p>If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew</p><p>To serve your turn long after they are gone,   </p><p>And so hold on when there is nothing in you</p><p>Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’</p><p><br/></p><p>If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   </p><p>Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,</p><p>If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,</p><p>If all men count w