Today I had to work on my off day. My current occupation allows me to interact with children sometimes, though most kids are scared of the police.
I digress...
Today I did a community relations function where I had to fingerprint children for their parents. This brings up a valuable note of interest. Safeguard your children. If given the opportunity arises, get your children fingerprinted, DNA swabbed, and take up-to-date pictures of them, just in case. Get all of that stuff and put it in the same place you put your car titles, mortgage/ deeds, birth certificates, and other important documents. It is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
As a father, it is our job to take the lead on the safety and security of the home. Talk about fire drills, "what if" situations, stranger danger, and drugs. Be active in who they are talking to, in person and online. They depend on us to show them right and wrong, and this falls into that category. So go hug your kids, keep them close, and pay attention. Prepare for the worst but hope and pray for the best.
Side note: Since today is Saturday, I find it appropriate to let everyone know that I will not post on Sunday. That is my family day. So see you on Monday!!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
"But we don't have cones at home....?"
Tonight, we had dinner at one of the many local fine eating establishments in the area: Dairy Queen. We don't go there often but when we do, we usually get ice cream. However, tonight, to my seven year old's dismay, we did not. You see, Coral had not long ago purchased some delectable grocery store brand ice cream. We (my wife and I) decided we would just eat that instead of getting the creamy soft serve at the restaurant. When we announced that at the end of the meal, Connor says "but we don't have cones at home". Fast forward about an hour...he did not eat any ice cream...not because of the cone but because he was full of fried chicken and French (side note: should that word be capitalized since they did not invent them?) fries. He was really just eager to go to bed after his shower, as were his brothers.
Connor was just doing what most of us do. He wanted it at first, but then after the thought (and the dinner) settled, it did not sound so great, cone or no cone. How often do fathers do that? Men sometimes eat too mush (wonder from their wives), under the allure that the ice cream with the cone (of the "other woman") is better. Then they realize afterwards that the dinner (family) they had before was more filling and didn't make him sick, just sleepy.
Men need to wake up and be men. Don't have relations with a woman until after you have fallen in love with her, after you have fully committed to her, and after you marry her. And here is the kicker: you should stay with her. You have to stay with her. You swore you would. From the most elaborate to the simplest, all wedding vows have the whole "sickness/health", "good/bad", "thick/thin" lines in them. And no matter how you feel at that moment of lust, or anger, or whatever, that is one half of the whole you. There is nothing that will ever replace her, no matter how hard you try. So don't try.
Connor was just doing what most of us do. He wanted it at first, but then after the thought (and the dinner) settled, it did not sound so great, cone or no cone. How often do fathers do that? Men sometimes eat too mush (wonder from their wives), under the allure that the ice cream with the cone (of the "other woman") is better. Then they realize afterwards that the dinner (family) they had before was more filling and didn't make him sick, just sleepy.
Men need to wake up and be men. Don't have relations with a woman until after you have fallen in love with her, after you have fully committed to her, and after you marry her. And here is the kicker: you should stay with her. You have to stay with her. You swore you would. From the most elaborate to the simplest, all wedding vows have the whole "sickness/health", "good/bad", "thick/thin" lines in them. And no matter how you feel at that moment of lust, or anger, or whatever, that is one half of the whole you. There is nothing that will ever replace her, no matter how hard you try. So don't try.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Babysitting...
I sit here with my three boys, watching them watch Peanuts, while my beloved has darted off to a "Girls only"-church party, and I reminisce about a conversation that was held several months ago about dads who "babysit" their children while mom gets a night out. For every man that says this in jest, I fear there are just as many who feel that this is just what they are doing. It is bothersome to me that a father would consider spending time with his children as a "burden". I look at every minute amount of time that I get to spend with my boys as a blessing.
Growing up, I always wanted a dad at home. However, coming from a divorce home, he couldn't be there as much as I wanted. I always promised myself that I would be there for mine children. Despite missing a couple of birthdays and holidays, I have kept up my promise. I have waded through Pokemon, Superman, Greek mythology, and dragons. I have watched cartoons that did not make sense to me, but made them laugh. I have sat up with them and their bad dreams at 3 o'clock in the morning, even though I had to go to work two hours later.
But that is what I do because I am a dad...more importantly, I am their dad. So when you hear a father say that he will be stuck at home on Friday night, babysitting his children, explain to him that his choices and God's grace put those children in his life and that they are to be looked at as a blessing, not a burden.
Growing up, I always wanted a dad at home. However, coming from a divorce home, he couldn't be there as much as I wanted. I always promised myself that I would be there for mine children. Despite missing a couple of birthdays and holidays, I have kept up my promise. I have waded through Pokemon, Superman, Greek mythology, and dragons. I have watched cartoons that did not make sense to me, but made them laugh. I have sat up with them and their bad dreams at 3 o'clock in the morning, even though I had to go to work two hours later.
But that is what I do because I am a dad...more importantly, I am their dad. So when you hear a father say that he will be stuck at home on Friday night, babysitting his children, explain to him that his choices and God's grace put those children in his life and that they are to be looked at as a blessing, not a burden.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
To you dads:
It is time for us to prioritize. Your extracurricular activities are just that: EXTRA. Your family is supposed to come first. I know fathers who sit and play video games - not with their children, but by themselves - but cannot seem to break away long enough to read Junior a book. I'll say it - THAT IS HORRIBLE PARENTING!!!
Children are a blessing. They are our responsibility. They are products of their environment. The fact is when you have children, you have to quit being one yourself.
So be there for them before they grow up. Keep them close. Teach them to tie their shoes, blow bubbles and shave (not in the same day). They do grow up. They can become upstanding citizen who give productively to society or they become degenerates who are wards of the state. It is usually dad's choice.
For the record, I also encourage having one parent who stays at home, specifically the mother. So this means going that extra mile and doing those extra things so that she can raise your children. It is imperative that there be a parent at the house when they leave for school and when they return. You will be amazed at how much that contributes to the success of a child.
As I said: they grow up. Don't miss it since it only happens once.
Children are a blessing. They are our responsibility. They are products of their environment. The fact is when you have children, you have to quit being one yourself.
So be there for them before they grow up. Keep them close. Teach them to tie their shoes, blow bubbles and shave (not in the same day). They do grow up. They can become upstanding citizen who give productively to society or they become degenerates who are wards of the state. It is usually dad's choice.
For the record, I also encourage having one parent who stays at home, specifically the mother. So this means going that extra mile and doing those extra things so that she can raise your children. It is imperative that there be a parent at the house when they leave for school and when they return. You will be amazed at how much that contributes to the success of a child.
As I said: they grow up. Don't miss it since it only happens once.
A Father's Place is in the Home
Everyone has heard the tired old cliche about how a "mother's place is in the home". And despite my personal feelings on the matter, I would like to point out that a father's place is the home as well. Now I can go through hundreds, maybe even thousands, of statistics as to why a dad should spend time with his kids, but let's face it...this is only my first post...I don't want to use all of the material at one time.
All joking aside, I look forward to the discussions and posts that will be had here. I encourage dialogue and other opinions. I know there are other schools of thought that are not like mine and I love listening, or reading as it may be, to them. Thank you.
~Brooks
P.S. Also, I promise not to get offended at your posts as long as you don't get offended at mine. Whether we like it or not, we're in this together, so we have to live with each other. Thank you and God bless.
All joking aside, I look forward to the discussions and posts that will be had here. I encourage dialogue and other opinions. I know there are other schools of thought that are not like mine and I love listening, or reading as it may be, to them. Thank you.
~Brooks
P.S. Also, I promise not to get offended at your posts as long as you don't get offended at mine. Whether we like it or not, we're in this together, so we have to live with each other. Thank you and God bless.
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