Today is our son's 1st birthday. This picture closely represents what the first year is like. Constantly watching over them, checking 50 times per night to ensure they are breathing properly, etc. It's hard for me to believe or comprehend, after what I have experienced over the past year, that there are children that are neglected and abused. I'm just not certain what type of person could hurt or injury something so perfect and sweet. The details that God puts into the birth and development of a child is beyond comprehension.
Fatherhood, an interesting article on fatherhood and the value children receive from fathers who spend time with them. This write up is precisely what this blog is about, creating a balance between career and family, being a successful manager at work and at home. Take a few and answer the questions at the bottom of this article honestly. If you do not reflect on the success and failures of your childhood or experience with your dad, you'll never know what you intend to do differently. Do not let pain or discomfort keep you from being honest with yourself. Explore you past and learn from the mistakes.
Check out this article from Focus on the Family, More Than a Game. It settles the debate on the often over used phrase "its just a game." Being so involved in baseball growing up, i understand the value of team sports. It developed many of the qualities I maintain today, some of which help me in life, but most of all, as a father.
This video is priceless. It represents, quite accurately by the way, the exact transformation from you man to father. It shows each of the weapons in the experienced fathers arsenal, jean shorts, socks & sandals, BBQ pits and minivans. It even gives away a special secret, that men truly hold a close tie to their zero turn mowers because it is the closest thing we have left to a motorcycle, four wheeler or anything else cool that is motorized.
Take a look and see what stage of fatherhood you are in. So far, i've managed to resist the socks and sandals, jean shorts, and sleeveless tanks tops. However, i am all about the khakis and izod shirts, zero turn mowers and BBQ.