It has been a work in progress, really. 40 years in the making. Skills like this don’t happen over night. It comes in tiny portions, miniscule lessons, an observation here and there, a pinch of know how, and a whole lotta luck.
You don’t get to be a kick ass dad without having a kick ass dad to set the example. Some will tell you how it’s done. Others will show you. Either way, you know you’ve got a good one when you can look back on your childhood and realize that you dad just like your dad did.
I was a patient kid. I’m a patient man, just like my father. He didn’t teach me to be patient, but I saw the value in it. I understood that it was virtue. Naturally, I lose my patience from time to time. Anyone who knows me knows I lose stuff. My patience shouldn’t be any different. We understand that good things come to those who wait. Work hard. Do your time and your time will come.
Like patience, my dad knows the value of hard work. So I know a job worth doing is worth doing right. When I walk into a classroom I teach my heart out. I’m a “yes man”. When administration needs me to step up and do extra, I do. My dad worked hard, too. I can still picture him walking into my high school gym still in work clothes to watch my wrestling matches. That was after dark.
Being a good dad isn’t easy. It at comes with it’s share of doubts and hardships. Am I doing the right thing? Am I raising good people? What’s going to happen next? What should I teach them?
However, the rewards outshine both. The laughter. Seeing them act kindly. Watching their excitement when they are successful. Feeling pride swell when they learn, when they win, when they do good when they think no one is watching.
Any man can be a father. The exceptional ones get to be called dad. I am the dad I am because of the dad my dad is.
Both of them.
Second paragraph, last line: ” realize that you dad just like your dad did. ”
Is “dad” a verb? You probably mean “did” — but you never know how “stomperdadded” you’ve been in your life.
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LOL yep, I verbed the word “dad” 🙂 Good catch!
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A belated Happy Father’s Day. I can tell you’re a good one.
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Thanks John. I try. Sometimes it’s easy sometimes the boys like to challenge me 🙂
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A belated Father’s Day to you, Eric! I think you are a terrific dad and your sons will always appreciate everything you do for them.
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Thanks, Terri! I’ll be curious to see what they remember about growing up once they are grown up.
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Happy Father’s Day! Great post – yep, you are a dad and a great one. Even from the lens of a blog reader we can tell that!
My favorite part of this post: “Anyone who knows me knows I lose stuff. My patience shouldn’t be any different.”
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Thanks! My mother always heard me say, “I had it a minute ago, I don’t know where it is now.” I still say that a lot.
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I say that too! We’re all losing our minds…
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Love this post! I hope you had a great Father’s Day.
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Thanks. Had a great day!
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A trust you had a great Father’s day!
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I did. Hope you did too!
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