Category Archives: Best advice from dads

Johnny Be Bad

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“The bad boy: Always more fun.”

—Ian McShane

Today’s story is contributed by Chris Haydel.

“Stay away from that Johnny, he’s trouble,” Mom warned.

He’s a troublemaker, a bad seed. As a nurse, Mom had observed the sometimes tragic result of hanging out with “dangerous” kids.

johnny be bad

Chris Haydel Family,
Christmas 1971

It was a hot summer day in New Orleans, but to me, it had never felt cooler. I had saved up for a month, and today was the big day. The shiny long barrel. The plastic “ivory” grip. Multi-cap loading capacity. A magnificent weapon. A young boy’s dream. I had seen it in the toy aisle of a store not too far away.

Mom had gone out to run errands, but she promised to take me as soon as she got back. I was playing outside to kill time.

Johnny was outside too, but he was killing bugs with his magnifying glass. “Hey, watcha doin’?” He yelled from across the street.

“Nothing,” I mumbled, bowing my head, heeding Mom’s warning. READ MORE 

Uniqueness Can’t Be Bought

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“But find something that you absolutely love doing. And then get to love the way you do it. That’s the uniqueness of all of us. That’s it.”

—Al Lewis

Today’s story is contributed by Bryton Neck.

My name is Bryton Neck and I’m 14 years old. My Dad is a Professor and I must admit at times I have tuned him out as he tried to lecture me on something about life and about success. But the older I get, I’m starting to see that some of Dad’s advice is really cool stuff and really makes sense.

Lately, I have seen him working harder than ever. He seems to always be up late and then up again really early in the morning. READ MORE 

My Dad Taught Me Cash Flow with a Soda Machine

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“I create. I take risks. I live my passion. I am an entrepreneur.”

—YSF Magazine

Today’s story is contributed by Rob Fitzpatrick.

After a brief, failed experiment paying me to do chores, my dad tried something really neat. It clearly took a bit of legwork, but maybe there are some transferable lessons for parents who want to lay an entrepreneurial foundation.

He gave me a vending machine. He rented the machine, found a location in a local workshop, and installed it. And then he told me two things:

  • That this would be the last time I was given an allowance.
  • And that if I wanted to have any pocket money next week, I’d better spend this week’s on some inventory.

I ran the machine for about four years, from the time I was seven or eight.

my cash flow

 

At first, my only agency was inventory management. We drove to Costco in his big van and I decided what to buy. Stocking an empty soda machine is easy: you buy four cases of each soda you want to carry. But then the Coca-Cola runs out first and the Sunkist is half empty, and nobody has bought even a single Grape Soda, and should I cut my margins paying more per-unit for individual cans, or do I buy full cases and find somewhere to store the extras? And why am I doing algebra on the weekend!?

Looking back on it, I’m certain this whole endeavor operated at a loss. Dad subsidized it like crazy so I would have a safe — but real —environment to learn in. READ MORE 

My Father – A Successful Unhappy Man

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“The most important thing in life is knowing the most important things in life.”

—David F. Jakielo

Today’s story is contributed by Dr. Bruce H. Jackson.

unhappy man, lieutenant

Bruce’s father, Lt. C. Charles Jackson

My father was a self-made man. Growing up during the Depression was a great challenge and blessing for him.

His father, my grandfather (who I never met), was a blind doctor. He made house calls in exchange for eggs and fresh produce. I’m always amazed how this man’s diligence and grit rubbed off on my father.

My father told me of the days he hunted for squirrel and rabbit so they could supplement their meals. He worked before and after school. The family lived a very frugal and controlled life — as my grandfather didn’t like to have his children leave the property much or be out of his control. READ MORE 

Raising a Kid-ney

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“When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.”

—William Shakespeare

Story contributed by Jimmy Sheils.

raising a kid

Jim going out for a surf shortly after his 76th birthday, with his son, Jimmy, 2010

Raising kids is tough business.
Any dad can identify.

Growing up without a dad is tough business.
Any kid can identify.

What would a dad do to save the life of his son?
Anything.

What would a son do to save the life of his dad?
Read this letter from Jimmy to his father. You’ll understand. Jimmy Sheils is the son. Jim the dad. Dad faced a life-threatening crisis. READ MORE 

Burnt Finger

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“Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.”

— Vernon Sanders Law

Today’s story is contributed by Risa Nye.

When I was a little girl, my mom had to go to the hospital a few times. I don’t remember why exactly, but I do remember how things were different around the house when my dad was in charge.

burnt finger

 

He liked to cook us breakfast in the morning, and always made us try to guess “the secret ingredient” — in our eggs, our Cream of Wheat, or our pancakes. It was usually cheese, but sometimes he surprised us with something else.

And, let’s just say he allowed us do things we weren’t allowed to do when Mom was around. There is one event in particular that’s seared into my memory, for reasons that will become obvious. Here’s the way I remember it: READ MORE 

Dad Said “No Way.” I Did It Anyway.

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“Learning is always rebellion… Every bit of new truth discovered is revolutionary to what was believed before.”

—Margaret Lee Runbeck

Today’s story is contributed by Pamela P.

Everything Dad said I couldn’t do, I did. I was determined to prove him wrong, to be my own kid.

Athletics — “girls don’t do that,” said Dad. Other “no ways.” Boys. Bikes. Electronics. Pants. I did them anyway. All the things that “girls didn’t (or shouldn’t) do,” I would jubilantly embrace.
no way dad

Pamela’s dad, Aquiles, as a young man

My family is Chilean; we came here when I was 3, fleeing Pinochet as political refugees. America didn’t soften Dad. He was — and is — the stereotypical Latino man (and dad). Overprotective. Authoritarian. Rigid. Sexist. And racist, too.

Dad was obsessed with sheltering his “little girl” from the ways of a land strange to him, but so comfortable, a perfect home to her. He was doing his best (I know now) but he was also driving me crazy.

(You can probably tell, I resented my father growing up. Today I am exactly what he was not — an artist, a progressive, an activist — he embodied everything I would come to abhor.)

My parents would later return to Chile (the States weren’t for them). My sister and I, as adults, stayed on. READ MORE