This is where I share great lessons from other dads. They were relayed to me by daughters and sons. What he did. What he said. The difference he made in their lives.
Love…Thicker than Blood
At 16, I boarded a bus. A dirty knapsack, a wad of ones. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. I couldn’t wait to get the heck out of that stiflingly small California town … and my home. I was rebellious. I ran wild.Read moreOne in Each Eye
I sat in the back corner, holding my breath as Dad took the stage. What happened next remains one of my most vivid memories…and a valuable lesson on life. No outlines. No cue cards. No charts or graphs. He spoke to that crowd like he was speaking to us at the dinner table.Read moreThe Battle of Troy
Another freezing winter in small town Britton, Michigan. Another pregnant cow, ready for birth. But it was different this time. Dad yanked and tugged. He tried hard to coax her into the barn. She wouldn’t budge. Read moreLife Lessons From Remarkable Dads
Today's post is a collection of life lessons. My dad said lots in very few words. In one sentence he often said all. These nuggets of savvy I call "Chubby Rules," named for my dad.Read moreEchoes Through Life, Generations
Just as my dad's had through mine, my own mistakes echoed loudly through my boys' lives. The boys watched as I drowned my demons in alcohol and drugs. Distracted myself with women. Time after time, I let my boys down.Read moreDig In Your Heels
A blizzard had just ravaged the state. Schools closed. Perilous roads. Everything froze, all covered with ice. Dad took me out in the cold on a long trek through the woods. We were alone, isolated deep in the trees. My hands became numb.Read moreSon Succeeds His Own Way — My Dad Harvey Mackay
David Mackay, Harvey Mackay’s son. Stanford grad. Accomplished film director. His credits include the recent Hallmark Channel hit 'Naughty Or Nice,' and the Disney Channel premiere movie, 'Breaking Free.' Growing up, he realized that it just wouldn't be right to follow in his dad's footsteps.
Read moreDolly Parton – No Patience for Pretense
Dolly's mom, dad and all 12 Parton kids crammed in a one-room cabin. No electricity… and plumbing? Forget it. The only "runnin' water" was the kind that ran in the creek nearby.Read more'Cats in the Cradle' — Harry Chapin
Jen's dad, Harry Chapin, traveled and performed. Much like the Dad in Harry's famous song, “he was gone too much,” says Jen. But Harry was not the dad in that song.Read moreHunting with Dad
Dad and me. Side by side. On our bellies. Beneath us, a massive valley. High on a ridge above Salt Lake City — and freezing. He had rousted me from bed at 4 AM. "But Dad…," I protested.Read more