HAPPY Father's Day!

[Abigayle]

To all you fathers out there, and in loving memory of those who have passed... You play one of the most important roles in our society.  You are the models for future generations.  If you play your cards right, your great-grandchildren will still be hearing great stories about you. 
What you teach will be passed down.  What you say, good or bad, will be remembered.  It's tough to continue your role, when you are dog tired, or when the kids have ticked you off....but those may be the most important times to go forward.
There may never be a more important role in our future, than that of good parenting.  So thank you for being there for them; for hanging strong. For teaching skills and ethics...It does not go unnoticed.

[Surveyor1]

I lived by one simple rule, “Be the child’s parent!  There will be plenty of time to be their friend but when raising them, be a parent.”  So many people these days want to be their child’s best friend, NO!  The need to be taught responsibilities, consequences for their actions and respect.  A friend is not going to teach them that and a friend is not going to tell them no…. Mean what you say and say what you mean and STICK TO IT!  Set parameters and STICK TO THEM!  I taught my kids to respect people, help people and not to lie!  If you ask my kids what I hate most they will tell you, “Liars”…. They know that lying is not an option.  My children are in their 30’s now and are NOW my best friends!  Their spouses have thanked me for the job we did in raising our children, especially my sons wife.  He treats her and her family with respect and manners and trust me, where they live those are rare commodities!  Raising children can be stressful but when done right one will reap the rewards for generations!

[Abigayle]

Surveyor, when my boys we be upset with me for "not being fair". I let them know that I was not running for office, that I already had the job.
"Not being fair" included things like pulling my son off the pitching mound when I saw lightening in the distance.  A little leaguer was struck by lightening and died that night, at a neighboring game.  Being unfair was not letting another son spend the night with several other boys, at a house where I didn't know the parents and one boys' behavior was "a little questionable".  The boys that spent the night there "borrowed" the step-fathers jeep and flipped it on a gravel road.  One boy was caught under the front window and killed.  Not being fair was telling that son he had to go up the the open casket.  This made it real.  My boys did not have an "active father" for many years.  Thor and I married when they were all in Jr. High, making us the Brady Bunch, but not as sweet.  So to all you single mothers out there, Happy "Being Both" day.  And never settle for less then you  and your children deserve.
I wasn't mother of the year. I would like some do-overs, but we don't get those.

[Surveyor1]

Thanks for sharing Abigayle!

I almost forgot, “a little bit of fear is a lot of respect”…. Never back down and never show weakness, it will be exploited…