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.
Dad Wasn’t Budging
Whap! Two burly, rough men threw it down on the floor. Woosh! With a flick of their arms it swooshed by our toes. “You like?” “No thank you!” Dad firmly said, time and again. Today’s story is from Elizabeth Parsons. My name is Elizabeth. It happened 17 years ago. It’s a story now easy to […]Read moreDads Are Coaches for Life
Dads Are Coaches for Life . . . College game day. The stadium exploded, a deafening roar. Today’s story is from Ben Thompson. His father is Rick. Virginia Tech had just beaten No. 1 ranked Duke, 64-60. The game was hard fought, a squeaker throughout. Victorious, Ben looked into the crowd. His eyes focused only […]Read moreTeach Your Kids to Resist the Urge
Teach Your Kids to Resist the Urge . . . Why is Facebook worth billions and you’re not? Today’s post is based on a study by Harvard psychologists Diana I. Tamir and Jason P. Mitchell. A study by two Harvard psychologists uncovered a proven way to make a bundle, raise smart kids and have great […]Read moreI Was Dad's Little Helper
Friday was payday! Today’s story is from David Vogt. I had just turned 6. I was building a barn in rural Illinois. I was working for Dad. I was paid 50 cents an hour. Dad was a factory worker. He made screws for telephones. Back then, he needed to moonlight construction to support our family. […]Read moreDad's Long Walk Without Shoes
A long walk without shoes. A craggy dirt road. An hour to school. An hour back home. My name is Shawn Kumar. This is about Dad. Today’s story is from Shawn Kumar. What kids now expect, he would never have dreamed. My father grew up in India. He was thankful just to have shoes. As […]Read moreThe Power of Dad's Silence
Winter of ’48. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Snow was a part of everyday life. Today’s story is from Lee Crist. My father, Charles Crist, was a fireman for the Pennsylvania Railroad. As a railroad employee, he was entitled to a “free pass” to anywhere on the ‘System.’ Over New Years, Mom and Dad decided to take the […]Read moreDad's Respect for All Living Creatures
Dad’s Respect for All Living Creatures… Playin’ Possum Today’s story is from Val Padar. Has it happened to you? A moving blur darts out in front of the car. A sickening thud…your heart jumps to your throat. Your stomach tightens, sours and churns. It happened to Sandor. He was my dad. He screeched to a […]Read moreMy Tough Biker Dad
Big, burly and bearded, Rocky was a biker; tough as a nail. He was my dad…and a pretty good “housewife,” too. Today’s story is from Lora Jarocki. We lived in Mountain Home, Idaho, a very small town. Mom, a Civil Engineer with the Air Force, traveled for work. With her away so much, Dad raised […]Read moreThe Miracle Was My Dad
“Grab your coat,” Dad said. It was late. Something was wrong at the Keeners’– our neighbors, our friends. Today’s story is from Gordie Zeigler. We climbed into our pick-up and raced to their farm. I was 10, excited, nervous and scared. Dad was an intense guy—about people, work, whatever was part of his immediate sphere. […]Read moreDad, Please Help Me!
At the Hyde household, love was abundant; resources were few. Today’s story is from Justin Hyde. “What we ate for dinner had often roamed the forest that day. Neighbors were miles apart,” Justin explained. As a boy, Justin longed to hunt with his dad. He pleaded, but was told, “Justin, you’re too young.” The day […]Read more