No Off Season...for dads

If you are on the east coast, you have been pounded by the snow, or as it has been affectionately named, 'Snowmageddon'!  Well, my boys have been out of school since Monday and it doesn't look like they are going back until Tuesday.  After a while, being stuck in the house, you can get cabin fever.  Especially if you are used to being out most of the day.  Well, my boys are not really suffereing from that.  They aren't really getting on our nerves.  They are actually really good.  We have played board games as a family, played in the snow, and relaxed and watched TV.  I have had to be creative myself during these times.  I have played the games, watched some soccer, cooked a little more and shoveled a little more. Yet, I am a still teacher, by occupation and life! So I was sitting at the computer devising a lesson dealing with African American History for my boys.  They had no clue of what was...

Here are some great tips I found for fathers. http://www.greatdads.org/   Enjoy! SEIZE THE MOMENT #2 – EXAMPLES Sweep your young daughter up in your arms and dance around for a moment or two. Sit down beside your child and ask him to tell you all about his latest “passion” – what he is really interested in. Have a meal where everyone must eat with the “wrong” hand. Wear yourself out wrestling with your kid on the family room floor. Invite your child to help you plan a special surprise for Mom – a nice meal, a “Mom Appreciation Night”. On a snow day, sled down the hill with your child. Or make snow ice cream. Some evening, say to a child before bedtime, “Come outside with me” and there have a tent set up for a night of camping with dad under the stars. When you have lots of “seized moments” like this with your child, it is quite likely the child will look back someday and say, “Dad was the guy who made life a lot of fun.” Wishing you the very best, Dr. Bob Bob Hamrin - Pres...

It was very interseting to hear how our Sunday morning worship service message about how pain and worship come together.   I experienced an example of this weekend.   Last night, lil' K was in a lot of pain.  He was hollering and screaming at the top of his lungs due to discomfort.  Me, being the sometimes unemotional dude, went upstairs to see what was the problem.  I encouraged him (better yet, demanded him) to stop the crying and yelling.  He was trying to let me how much pain he was really in.  I had to change my attitude and get sensitive here.  So I went downstairs and fixed him some food.  As I was doing this, he was still upstairs hollering.  I walk back upstairs, poised this time, only to hear something so soothing.  I peaked through the door and saw him sitting with tears raining from his eyes.  This is what I heard... "God, please help me.  God, pleeease (sniff) make my pain (sn...

As you all know, we are living in a tough economic times.  Yet, I am reminded of Rush Limbaugh when he said that although we are living in a recession, he chooses not be to be a part of it.  I have the same sentiment.  Well, I have given the boys an allowance.  I'll be honest, I really just started to get serious about it.  Anyway... I promised the boys that I would give them a certain amount every two weeks.  They can use this money on whatever they want (within reason).  They also have to learn how to use their money. They have a piggy bank that they got from an investment firm called Lenox Advisors.  It teaches my boys how to use their money wisely.  Thanks Lenox Advisors.  Check it out... I am not sure if this is the case for everyone, but when money gets tight, you look for ways to conserve it.  For instance, cutting back on eating out, reducing cell phone usage, turning off the lights, using coupons in...

I was in a holiday concert this past blistery weekend.  It was phenomenol!  We had a lot of fantastic acts and a lot of good fun.  Well, at the end of the two hour concert, we introduced all of the members of the band and of the group, Shades of Vision (of which I have I have sung with for the last 13 years).  As the band played a funky rendition of 'Funkin' for Jamaica', one of the group members introduced me.  I could talk about family, my life, and any other thing I felt necessary that would describe me.  I began singing and then talking about my family, who were 'sitting' stage left.  "I have a beautiful wife of twelve years and two...two...", I said as I was center stage. As I was pointing and talking, my two handsome, energetic boys were jumping up and down, with everyone of their teeth showing, giving their unyeilding support for their performing dad. "My two...boys", I finished my sentence.  I was pointing, the boys were ju...

So we are sitting at the dining room table eating dinner.  My youngest tells us that he is not that hungry.  He gnaws at his chicken a little more, gives up, puts it back on his plate and tells us, "I'm finished".  He then takes his styrofoam plate to the trash (we're tired of washing dishes!) and throws it away with the chicken and pasta still on the plate.  He then comes back to the table reaching for a candy cane. "What are you doing?", we ask. "I am getting a candy cane", he says with confidence. "Sorry son, you just said that you were full". He looks at us with a confused look on his face. "I didn't say I was full." "Yes you did.  You said that you were full!", we say with FULL confidence.  I am standing ground here.  I know, it's just a candy cane, but it's the principle! "Dad, I didn't say I was full", he says again.  He is standing his ground as well.  How are you gonna sta...

I got tired.  I really got tired.  Tired of coming to my house and seeing everything out of order.  I would straighten one thing up and another would get messed up.  So I would straighten that up, and then, the first thing I straightened...got messed up again! So the Lord touched.  Better yet, he smacked me upside the upper left side of my neck and reminded me that I had two boys sitting... on the couch... watching... TV.  Two additional helpers.  What a coincidence!  Why did I not think of this earlier?  They need to be helping!  So I devise this great scheme -- make them help me with the house!  How...how...how brilliant! So I sit down at the kitchen/ breakfast/ homework/ mail collector/ pseudo business office/ conference table and devise a plan.  I then summoned the boys to the multi-purpose table and asked them what they thought would be some good chores for them to do.  I knew there would be some re...