Tag Archives: confidence

Dad Had My Back

“When my father didn’t have my hand… he had my back.”

—Linda Poindexter


Today’s story is contributed by Jason Dwurple.

Until I was 14 or so, my life at school was hell.
Every day, a new humiliation.

My name is Jason Dwurple — yep, you heard right. As if being the only Catholics in a small town wasn’t bad enough, I grew up with the strangest name on the planet (Dwurple became “Dorkel,” “Twirple” — you get the idea).

Dad had my back

Jason and his father Bob on a hike in Northern California.

For these reasons and more, I was a natural target. I was bullied unmercifully day after day.

Today there is public awareness of how bad bullying can be. Not when I was young. It was largely ignored — “just part of growing up.”

I didn’t tell my parents — I was embarrassed. I didn’t want Mom to worry. And Dad — well, we were never that close.

I was sensitive, pensive and awkward, the polar opposite of Dad. In fact, I spent most of my childhood thinking I was a disappointment to him. Unlike me, my father was a tough guy, a character. People laughed at his jokes. They listened when he spoke. READ MORE 

Confidence in Kids Endures for Life

With hunting season underway, it wasn’t the sight of three men with rifles that made John Hite uneasy. It was their demeanor.


Tommy Hite and sons

Tommy Hite and sons, 1988
L to R – Richard, Steven, John (at top) and David

He watched as the trio flagged down his buddy’s truck on the dusty dirt road twenty yards ahead. He couldn’t make out the words, but the message was clear.

Arms flailing. One spat in the road. Go home. Get out of here.

John quickly put his truck in park and slid out. “Son,” he said to his six-year-old boy, “stay here.” He approached the trio. “What’s the problem?”   READ MORE