No Off Season...for dads

Our family loves to watch  'Shark Tank'.  Its an incredible show that entrepreneurs get the chance to pitch their ideas to business owners for financial backing.  We love it for the cut-throat negotiations and the brilliant ideas of those needing business help.  Well, those business ideas have streamed down to our intuitive boys.  They are always thinking of ideas to build a business and make money.  Well, the youngest came up with this fantastic idea. For real, it was outright ingenious!   So the conversation on this great concept came to the breakfast/ dinner/ work/ office/ idea...table.  "Dijon, did your son tell you about his business idea?", my wife says.  His face lit up at the opportunity to tell. "Okay son.  Well, you have to pitch this as if you are presenting to the Sharks.  Think your idea through and be ready to present.", I said. "Okay." And so he began to think it through.  A silence swept across the breakfast/ dinn

I think my boys have lost it! They have been jumping around the house like Ausrtalian kangaroos in the quest to find out 'who they are'. 'I'm part Cherokee. I'm part German! I'm part Scottish..."    It's actually somewhat interesting to watch their building enthusiasm on the topic. A conversation ensued at the breakfast/dinner/work/homework...table about who they are and their family origin.   So here's the deal. So we called their grandparents and put them on speaker.  We found out that my wife's family is West Indian with a couple of nationalities behind that. My side of the family stems from the great state of South Carolina.  Yet there are hints of German and Cherokee Indian.    But let's face it:  who isn't mixed up with a whole lot of everybody? Our family trees have so many branches and limbs that it could be overwhelming to decipher, yet, a blast to figure and find out. And seeing the family tree at the family reunion-

Parent Teacher Conferences.  Let me first say that I have always been very proud of my boys' academic achievements.  They are very bright and often times (I stress those words) make wise decisions.  The conferences proved very beneficial to hear.  Everything was not all rosy.  They both have essential things need work (some organization, a little silliness -- you know, they things WE have to work on). But in the scheme of things, this is part of their development.  All that being said, I am ridiculously proud to be their dad right now.  They still need to take out the trash.   They are learning and being challenged so much in school. I hope they start washing the dishes without me asking them to .  The teachers had a lot of great things to say about them.  Can you please clean your room, though -- like for real?!?   No real points...I am just very proud and honored to be their dad. And I'm gonna let them know it.   Just make up your bed please. I'm N.O.S...

I wonder at times if I am doing this right.  This parenting thing. Have you ever thought this?  Actually, you may not have...but I have. Tasks I would consider easy seem to become scientific problems for NASA here.  As I was writing this, one of my boys became so frustrated with one of the chores he was doing because...just because.  My fingers left the keyboard and went to help him.  I took some time and showed him how to do it.  And he got it.  And he was grateful.  And that was it.  I have to remember this.  I have to take the time to demonstrate my expectations.  I have to take the time.  I have to. I am twenty years old (+++) and my boys are still in elementary and middle school.  I've had a wealth of life changing experiences, where they have had a max of 13 years of simple life.  The reminders, given over and over and over and...(whew) and over again are necessary for them.  As a matter of fact, some adults get constant reminders, over and over again.  In fact, some wh

It was late.  I was putting my youngest to bed.  I took a moment to put my head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat.  Steady pound, rhythmic, soothing.  I was looking at him in his eyes as he lay with a little smile on his face.  He was looking at me closely when he noticed something.  "Dad, you have a scar over your eye." "Remember where I told you I got it from?", I said. "Oh yea.  You got it from your old house." I grew up in Decatur, Georgia in a house off of Glenwood Road off of I-285 (I know you didn't need to know all of that). Well, one day I was home with my dad playing in the house.  I was small, so our house seemed rather large to me, better yet, gigantic! So, I took off running in the house up and down the hall.  "Son, don't run in the house.", said my dad. That went in one ear and out the other so quickly.  I kept running.  Running.  I looked back as my dad yelled out again for me to stop running. I was still

By the time you read this, my oldest son would have turned 13 years old.  Thirteen!   I HAVE A TEENAGER! Somebody ring the alarm!!!!  My mouth is open in amazement. I remember the night before, rushing out the house, breaking every traffic law racing to get to the hospital.  He was born at exactly 12 noon.  And now...he's thirteen. Reflecting for a moment... I have been seriously thinking about what to say to him, what prolific speech to give.  He's very intelligent with lots of success so far.  He is a leader, very vocal and loves to be around his friends.  He's athletic and loves to play and watch sports.  So, what can I tell him as a dad to inspire him and challenge his life and character?  There was one thought that God put on my mind... Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home an