Whiner

"Those who do not complain are never pitied."
Jane Austen

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i wasn't a whiner to start with.
I learned it the hard way.
I learned it at my Daddy's knee
You don't believe what I say?

Well here's how it happened
I tell you this is true
Suppose I'd had a rough day
Suppose I was feeling blue

Say I'd had had a headache
Plaguing me for hours
But I'd grinned and borne it
Exercised will (and won't!) powers

Well, when I mentioned to Dad
That I'd been in pain
He'd respond, "You haven't said anything
Not once did you complain ...

"You are imagining it
It hasn't been that bad
You'd have been groaning
If it really had."

I learned, from then on,
At the first twinge, to whine
To get the sympathy
That was rightfully mine.

"Oh, poor child, does it hurt?
Here! Let me pat your head
Let me kiss it better
Let me tuck you in to bed."

Thus did Dad feel
That he was helping his child
He was being kind to her
He was so gentle and mild.

But, Dad, you don't know
How much harm you did
You made a pathetic whiner
Of a perfectly happy kid.

Parents, take heed, please
Learn -- and, unlike my Dad
When you child shows strength
Please show her that you're glad!