advise to my daughter two

Be flexible to change.  Be open to other opinions.  Most importantly, take chances in learning. 

advise to my daughter one

Regardless what you chose in life, alway chose.  Having an opinion is as important as the understanding perspective. 

advise to my sone two

If you dont bait your hook, you will never catch fish.

Advise to my son one

If you make her feel good, you almost guarantee you will feel good

"Perspective is everything"

August 9, 2011

Raising children can be a challenging and rewarding experience. Raising two teenage people, basically young adults can be absolutely frightening. Will they make the right choices? Will they stay out of trouble? How will they handle this situation? I hope they come to me with questions… are just a few things that parents ask and wish about their own namesake’s.

It is always a beautiful thing when your children come to you with an experience and you see the light bulb turn on above their heads.

It’s even better when their experience is done in a totally safe environment. “It’s all about perspective,” I told my teenage children after the wife and I came home from a weekend as a “couple.” I can’t believe grandma said this; I can’t believe grandpa did that. “Now I know why you get mad Dad when I…” “I am so glad you are home.” “I just stayed in my room all day.” “I couldn’t even go across the street.”

I told both my teenage children while discussing the weekend’s experiences around the dinner table, “Don’t discount what you have until you have a chance to share in another’s experience.”

“Sometimes what you have ain’t that bad.”

Life in a nutshell for my teenage children was this weekend. It emphasized the importance of understanding my “parental” perspective, their “teenage” perspective and the perspective of other people in their lives. The importance of getting along with others who were raised differently, act differently, have different belief systems and have different “perspectives” and “experiences” from life.

As teachers say, “that was a teachable moment, “ and there was a whole lot of learning going on.

Dad when you were my age…

I have two kids. One, who without effort is the “A” type personality who wants to “get it done” and has a “do it her way” attitude. The other, much more easy going, nothing bothers him, there’s always the “tomorrow” philosophy to life. Guess which one occupies more of my time? You got it, the Kenny Chesney, Margaritaville child that I love so much.

What is more frustrating is he has the true potential to be a successful high achiever. If he put just as much effort into putting in the hard work, as he does “taking it easy,” I would be a happy camper. Who am I to complain though, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Just goes to show, it is not what you say, but what you do that rubs off on your children.

I guess I should not be disappointed. In the clutch, he did pull off an “A” in a summer school biology class he is taking so he can “coast” during his sophomore year in high school. He was actually the “curve” for the class.

Happy daze.

"No dead fish"

While my children have had their fair share of complements and awards growing up, none have been so heart felt than the one given to me two days ago.

Something as simple as a firm handshake, a clear and pronounced introduction and good eye contact by my son, had such a strong reflection on my family, decisions for my family and parenting style my wife and I have employed.

Two days after a work picnic, a peer approached me and said, “You have a great son.” Keep in mind this was a 60 second introduction and light conversation. He continued to express his positive impressions he had of him, referencing these simple gestures when they met. “I can tell, you have a great son. I work with people all day long and was so knocked back by your son’s polite easy tone, confidence and firm hand shake. I know you were doing something right.”

Good job “P.”