NOTE: At the end of this post, I'll tell you the rules for my Fathers Day 2018 Contest: The winner will get to choose between two field-level tickets to a regular season Yankees game in the Bronx (date TBA, travel not included) or a $1,000 donation to your father's favorite charity.
My father died when I was eleven, and was in and out of my life before that, so I don't have too many solid memories of him.
And while I was super close with my mother, I never felt like I knew "the whole story" with her. I think my mom operated under the "I didn’t want to tell you because you weren’t ready" mentality, and we never quite got there.
In anticipation of Father's Day, I've been thinking a lot about what being a father means to me, and a big part of it is sharing as much of my life as possible with my two kids.
This meant bringing them to work as much as was possible (and realistic) while they were growing up, and it also meant letting them have a voice in where we'd go on vacation, or to eat - or any of our family plans, for that matter. And it's meant being open with my children emotionally (within reason of course).
Being a father has also meant passing on "life lessons." I've always emphasized three "golden rules" with my kids:
1. Be a good person to everyone.
2. Be a good brother and son with your family.
3. Do your best in school.
Those were our only "non-negotiable" rules. We drilled them into our kids very early on.
And it's very satisfying to see what generous adults they've become, what good sports they are at all times.
But being a father is not just about how I "parent" my kids; it's also about how they influence me!
My kids, in addition to my wife, serve as my accountability police.
They keep me honest by goofing on me what seems like all of the time. They help me to not take myself too seriously.
It’s good to have people who know you and are completely open and honest with you. Who can critique you.
My daughter often calls me out when I tell her a story: "I can't believe you said that to that person!" (She also helps me dress sometimes.)
For me, the bottom line is that being a father is about more than the love I have for my kids: It's the teaching that only my my wife and I can provide them - and it's the learning that we can only get from them.
FATHERS DAY 2018 CONTEST RULES:
1. Subscribe to this blog by entering your email address > HERE <. (If you're already subscribed, you can skip this step.)
2. Leave a comment in the comments section below, telling me what being a father - or having a father - means to you. If you're reading this from your email, click > HERE < to go to the full blog page on my website and you can leave your comments below.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY! CONTEST CLOSES AT 12:01 AM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME, JUNE 18th, 2018.
CONTEST RULES: By entering your comment, you are agreeing to the following Official Rules: Must be US resident; Must enter by leaving comment in comments section of this post; I retain the right to publicize the names and likenesses of the winner(s); If winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, it will be re-awarded, at my discretion. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Song of the Day: "Father And Daughter" by Paul Simon
With my amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the first thing that happened almost 2 years ago now, was speaking as if I were drunk. I wasn’t. I initially did improve speech (articulating clearly but slow) but now I can no longer speak in an acceptable way. Then, a year later eating became problematic, I was biting my tongue and lips, and chewing became weak and less controlled. Soon after that some fingers started to fail me and things would drop out of my hands. Somewhere at that time bulbar ALS was diagnosed. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. My decline was rapid and devastating.. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic ALS/MND herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle.i recovered significantly! Visit www. kycuyuhealthclinic. com
My father taught me to be a gentleman by leading by example. He taught me to be kind, by sharing kindness with others. He taught me accountability by holding me accountable. He taught me respect by respecting others, including me. He taught me to treat ALL people, regardless of race, color, creed and gender as I would want to be treated. What my father didn’t have in cash he had in character. I am SO VERY grateful for the person he was and what he’s shared with me.
My father taught me one thing in his absence and that was to be present in my kids life.I became a father too twin boys at 17 years old and became a single parent of twins by the time I was 18 years old.now I am the father of 4 3 boys one girl and I have learned that there is nothing I am more prideful for than being a father they have taught me alot more thank they will ever know my life is dedicated to them happy fathers day to all you real dads out there
Being a father to me means alot of things, my biological father married a wealthy doctor and was content leaving me and my siblings in foster homes and forgetting about us so did she even after she legally adopted me at six years old I loved her like a real mother she never cared because I wasn’t a paycheck than they lost custody of us via the state for abuse and neglect my father saw this as an opportunity for an “out” of his parental duties he was a very abusive man as well. My husband has been more of a father to me than anyone ever has for the last two years, we have a son who is three and medically fragile he has kidney disease and a feeding tube surgically implanted in to his stomach for the last three years because he was born early due to me having preeclampsia and helps syndrome he also had eye surgery. My husband does our sons Medical cares daily and nightly with me it’s a round the clock schedule. He does our sons cares tirelessly with compassion and love. And all the while he helps take care of me as I am on permanent disability myself. To me that is an amazing father not simply because of all the things he does for us but just the simple fact that he loves us. It may be surprising to hear to alot of people but just biologically being a father dosent mean that is a guaranteed dad for anyone. Or guaranteed love. It takes alot more than that. I’m proud of my husband as he stepped up and loved me and my son when no one else did or thought we were burdens my husband never for once thought that way just simply because he loves us. Everytime I ask my husband to do anything for our son he does it. He’s an amazing father to our son. I’m so happy I was able to give my husband a son that he loves so much. My husband always says and does positive things for me and my son. He that’s us so we’ll and is so gentle and kind. To me he is almost a perfect father. And all just because he loves us. When you love someone Everything right will fall into place. I pray and hope God can be my father too. I love him more than anyone could know and to me that would be the ultimate blessing to have God as my father. Happy fathers day! Thanks for reading! Fingers crossed and ty for the chance for the giveaway as well! -Abigail Schuette fireblackstars@gmail.com
What being a father means to me is having the ability to put everyone and everything before yourself and knowing that the job is never fully done. Providing a sense of security, always being an ear to listen and giving words to live by, encouraging your kids to do the best and always give 110 percent in everything they do… Never be too good to do any job or think you are better than anyone else and always treat people better than you expect to be treated. Sometimes you need to lead by example and others you need to be the voice of reason or the guiding light during the storms they go through in life. I may not be rich with money but I hit the jackpot by being a father and knowing that what I teach my kids and all they do becomes a part of my legacy… Your kids need to always know they can talk to you or tell you anything at any time. Trust, honesty, compassion, standing up for what you believe in and respect are all things I try to instill in my children. Most of all you have to let loose and have fun with them… Be goofy and do crazy stuff that only Dad’s can do… Support them in everything they do but always be there to pick up the pieces when things don’t work out the way they planned… Treat them the way you want their significant other to treat them one day or set the example so they know how they should be treated in a relationship… Most of all tell them how awesome they are and that you will always love and support them in everything they do…. This is what being a father means to me Todd Allen Osmun.