Author Archives: Greg Hague

About Greg Hague

I am an entrepreneur, attorney, author, motivational speaker, pilot, and world motorcycle traveler. First and foremost I am a dad. And, I am the founder of www.savvydad.com. My new book, How Fathers Change Lives, is a "Chicken Soup" collection of stories about remarkable dads... 52 examples of doing it right. What they say. What they do. Best advice. The stories are inspiring, touching and fun. The life lessons are great. This book has been recommended by some very special people including my friend, NY Times #1 Best Selling author Harvey Mackay ("How to Swim with the Sharks.."). In its first month it received over 50 five-star Amazon reviews. Learn more about Greg. Follow Greg on Google+

Mom Saved My Life

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If you don’t read this, you lose. It’s that touching. It’s that good.

Today’s story is from Chloe Veron

Chloe Veron is 21, a junior at Harvard. I’m sure she has a remarkable dad. I know she has a remarkable mom.

Mom saved my life

Mom Joy and Chloe

Chloe’s mother saved her life … and her sister Annie’s … and her brother Elliot’s, but paid a dear price. Chloe and her sister Annie, produced one of the most heart-warming, videos I’ve ever seen. It’s a well-deserved tribute to an incredible mom.

At Savvy Dad, we normally talk about dads. For Mother’s Day, it’s our privilege to honor one amazing mom. After seeing the video (and shedding a tear with Roseann), I sent a message to Chloe in the hope that she might share a photo and perhaps a comment or two. We had not met or communicated before.

Here’s what she wrote back:    READ MORE 

How Do You Know When Your Dad is Mad?

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“No one can lie, no one can hide anything, when he looks directly into someone’s eyes.”

—Paulo Coelho

by Greg Hague

Stark white rims. Dark rose lenses. “Guessing Glasses,” according to Dad. “I have to guess how she feels!” Dad said.

How can you tell when your dad is mad?

Mom in her ‘Guessing Glasses’

The year the company discontinued “her style,” she bought all they had. White rims. Dark rose lenses. Mom’s guessing glasses. One day I asked, “Mom, what’s the deal with the white sunglasses? Always the same pair. You never take them off.”

She smiled, “Greg, how do you know when your dad is mad?” That’s easy, I thought. “The vein in his forehead pops out,” I replied.   

“Exactly,” Mom said. “It’s a signal, right?” I nodded in agreement. I knew this well. (Pay attention. This next part is good.)

“That’s why I wear sunglasses,” Mom whispered. “What do you mean?” I asked.    READ MORE 

Dad’s Wisdom on the Basics of Living

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“It is a wise father that knows his own child.”

—William Shakespeare

Today’s story is from Katie McDevitt.

College graduation. Celebration for most. Bittersweet for me.

Dad's wisdom

Mom (Ellen), Brother (Ryan), Katie & Dad (Jim)

The man who got me there wasn’t there. He died a year ago. Kidney failure. At 45. Too young. Not fair.

Graduating without Dad didn’t feel right. Actually, it wasn’t right. My father knew it was coming. We had time to talk. Not enough time to catch all of dad’s wisdom, of course.

So he left me a letter. It was two years before I could read it for the first time. The letter was not just about love or how much he cared. I knew. He knew I knew.

It was about how to lead a happier life. Four nuggets of dad’s wisdom. Not esoteric stuff. Dad was not that kind of guy. It was common sense guideposts for living more right. Dad would be honored to know his wisdom might help you in some way.    READ MORE 

A Lesson From Dad – Oatmeal?

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“Half a loaf is better than no bread.”

—Traditional Proverbs

Today’s story is from GiGe Neck.

My name is GiGe. I am 11. This is a story about breakfast. And oatmeal. And a lesson from dad.

A Lesson from Dad

GiGe

My mom was out of town. My mom normally makes my breakfast. Dad’s turn to be chef for the day. Will Dad burn the house down?

“What do you want for breakfast,” Dad says. I say, “Anything is fine.” Dad’s cooking skills are not the best. I’m thinking he’ll pull out the box of Frosted Flakes.

“How about oatmeal? I have a secret family recipe I’ve never told you about,” Dad proudly says.

I don’t want to hurt his feelings so I say, “sure.” But I’m not “sure” given I don’t like what oatmeal looks like and I’ve never tasted it before.    READ MORE 

Left-handed Hammers? Trust Your Gut

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“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”

—Benjamin Spock

by Brian Hague

I was lucky growing up. I had a really great dad. But there was another man who treated me like a son. His name was Gary.

dad's hammer

My other dad, Gary

Back in 1992, I was 14. Gary promised to help me build a new skateboard ramp. We were at Home Depot, buying wood and supplies. “Brian, go grab a left-handed hammer,” he said.

Left-handed hammer? Sounded funny. Didn’t Gary have a hammer? Well, maybe it broke. I scurried away. Left-handed hammer? Easy. Shouldn’t take long.    READ MORE 

My Dad Chubby Was My Mentor

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“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses; some don’t turn up at all.”
—Sam Ewing

by Greg Hague

my dad, my mentor

My ‘no-eyelids’ dad

When I was a kid, Dad didn’t sleep. On weekdays, he’d leave each morning at 8, stay at the office all night, come home at first light, shower, shave, a quick plate of eggs, a hug for Mom, and back at it again.

It was Saturday morning. I munched Sugar Pops. Chubby ate eggs. “Dad,” I said, with a curious face, “On weekdays, why don’t you sleep?”

Chubby peered up from his plate, eyes double big-big.

He said,

“Didn’t Mom tell you? I was born without eyelids.”

I stared into Dad’s pupils. No eyelids? Yeah, right!    READ MORE 

Savvy Dad on Worry and War

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“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow,
it only saps today of its joy.”

-Leo Buscaglia

by Greg Hague

October ’62. Cuba. Missiles. Blockade. Nuclear War? I am 14…old enough to know the mess we are in. A U.S. U-2 spy plane takes photographs of Soviet SS-5 land-based nuclear missiles 99 miles off our coast. Staged in Cuba, they are pointed at us.

Dad Says Why Worry?Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko sternly warns the U.S., “Don’t attack Cuba.” To liven things up, Soviet warships head our way. Our military is at DEFCON 2, the highest ever. Newspapers, television, radio; conversations at work, school and play focus on nuclear war.

In class, our teacher graphically illustrates the effects of nuclear fallout. Day after day, we practice nuclear attack drills (essentially, we hide under our desks).
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