Wonderful Daddies!
Recently I saw a thought-provoking bumper sticker: “Anybody can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy.”
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“Daddy, where does the light come from?” Billy had just switched on the lamp by his bed. Now he looked at his father with wide, questioning eyes.
The question was a serious one for a seven-year-old. His father answered by describing in simple terms how the bright light of the sun pulls the water from the ocean into the sky. It then falls as rain in the mountains. He went on to describe the giant water wheels that capture the power of rushing water and change it into invisible streams of electric energy.
This energy passes swiftly through miles and miles of wire until it reaches the light bulb, which, almost magically, can turn the invisible power back into light.
After a few more questions, Billy’s eyes lit up and his face broke out in an “I see” kind of smile. A choice moment had arrived, more awesome than the miracle of electricity. A portion of knowledge from the father’s head had been transferred to Billy’s brain.
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A thankful person cannot keep quiet.
Charlie told me about the morning he drove our three-year-old, Michelle, to her grandmother’s house. As he dropped her off, Michelle kissed him good-bye & tenderly whispered, “Thank you, Daddy.” Charlie felt like a king all day. Childlike appreciation lifts the heart. Daddies need that too!
Children–Our Spiritual Teachers
Children have a great deal to teach us by their questions, their answers, & their lives. How may we utilise them as resource people in our spiritual growth? That is the question we will seek to answer.
The first step toward viewing children as master teachers is to get down to their eye level, or even a bit further down so that you can look up to them. The next step is to do something with them.
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My nephew & I were busily walking around the house looking for Magic Markers. He stopped me, took my hand, & said, “Wait a minute. I want to tell you something.” I said, “OK.” So I sat down as he stood in front of me. He looked at me with his big blue eyes & said, “I love you so much. I want to show you how much I love you.” I could just feel this little heart aching–ready to burst with the love he wanted to give. We talked about it for awhile, & we hugged & cried together.
Later I thought about what he had said to me. A busy eight-year-old boy, taking time out to tell me that he loved me & that he wanted to show me that love. How often do I think of showing my love to others? I thanked the Lord for the lesson & I’m still thanking Him for it!
Fun & Games
Three-year-old Susanne stayed in the kitchen while her mother cleaned up the breakfast dishes. She kept tugging at her mother’s skirt, asking her to play dolls. Carolyn felt that being in the same room with her child was as good as playing. But this particular morning she realised the tugging said, “Love me, Mommy.” Carolyn put her towel down, took the phone off the hook, & sat down on the floor. Susanne looked up with wide, starry eyes & exclaimed, “Mommy! Are we playing?” She knew the difference.
As you play with your child & encourage him to take part in the family traditions, you are building his confidence. He’ll be much more inclined to follow your way of life if you have been close throughout the years, playing & having fun together.
Investing in our future
The principal goal of parenting is teaching children to become their own parents.
Always keep in mind that we have as much to learn from our children as we have to offer them.
An ancient Chinese proverb goes like this:
If you think one year ahead–sow a seed.
If you think ten years ahead–plant a tree.
If you think a hundred years ahead–educate the people.
John Ruskin wrote, “That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble & happy human beings.” This is indeed a possibility: Educating the people & creating whole nations where the majority of the population are noble & happy humans beings. I can think of no greater legacy!
The kind of person your child is going to be, he is already becoming.
A Tribute to Mothers
A partially deaf boy came home from school one day carrying a note from officials at the school. The note suggested that the parents take the boy out of school, claiming that he was “too stupid to learn.”
The boy’s mother read the note and said, “My son Tom isn’t ‘too stupid to learn.’ I’ll teach him myself.” And so she did.
When Tom died many ears later, the people of the United States of America paid tribute to him by turning off the nation’s lights for one full minute. You see, this Tom had invented the light bulb-and not only that, but motion pictures and the record player. In all, Thomas Edison had more than one thousand patents to his credit.
When Mother Teresa received her Nobel Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?”
She replied, “Go home and love your family.”
What a mother can do …
My mother said to me, “If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general; if you become a monk, you’ll end up as the pope.” Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be-
I had a mother who read to me.
-Strickland Gillian (1869-1954)
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She broke the bread into two fragments and gave them to the children, who ate with avidity.
“She hath kept none for herself,” grumbled the sergeant.
“Because she is not hungry,” said a soldier.
“Because she is a mother,” said the sergeant.
-Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
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All mothers are rich when they love their children.
There are no poor mothers, no ugly ones, no old ones.
Their love is always the most beautiful of joys.
-Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949)
Ways to show respect to children
Don’t dismiss children’s feelings and slip into being gruff in your interactions. Respond with love.
Make eye contact with children, and go down to the children’s level when talking to them; for example, when you’re telling them something or passing on instruction.
Take a little bit more of your time to really tune in to the children.
Show kids that they’re important to you by how you treat them. Give children the same level of attention that you expect from them.
Stop and acknowledge children.
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What You Know vs. How You Feel
Feelings, or emotions, are a significant side to our lives, yet we almost totally ignore them as we overemphasise the acquisition of knowledge in both our homes & our schools.
Learning to manage our own emotions, to have self-confidence & self-esteem, to avoid being depressed, afraid, stressful, anxious, worried, jealous, shy & the like are primary skills that we should possess.
The principal goal of parenting is teaching children to become their own parents.
Always keep in mind that we have as much to learn from our children as we have to offer them.
An ancient Chinese proverb goes like this:
If you think one year ahead–sow a seed.
If you think ten years ahead–plant a tree.
If you think a hundred years ahead–educate the people.
John Ruskin wrote, “That country is the richest which nourishes the greatest number of noble & happy human beings.” This is indeed a possibility: Educating the people & creating whole nations where the majority of the population are noble & happy humans beings. I can think of no greater legacy!
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Think of the things that make you happy,
Not the things that make you sad;
Think of the fine and true in Mankind,
Not its sordid side and bad;
Think of the blessings that surround you,
Not the ones that are denied; 
Think of the virtues of your friendships,
Not the weak and faulty side.
Think of the gains you’ve made in business,
Not the losses you’ve incurred;
Think of the good of you that’s spoken,
Not some cruel, hostile word;
Think of the days of health and pleasure,
Not the days of woe and pain;
Think of the days alive with sunshine,
Not the dismal days of rain.
Think of the hopes that lie before you,
Not the waste that lies behind;
Think of the treasures you have gathered,
Not the ones you’ve failed to find;
Think of the service you may render,
Not of serving self alone;
Think of the happiness of others,
And in this you’ll find your own!
–Author Unknown
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The kind of person your child is going to be, he is already becoming.
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A perfect example of minority rule is a baby in the house!
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A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, the home happier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
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Family Time Activity Ideas
By Rachel Hanlon, Web excerpt
Young children (ages 2-5)
Reading: Sit down and enjoy a good book with your child.
Nature walks: Contact your local government and see if they have nature walks through your parks and gardens within your city. In some cities there may even be a botanical garden, or Chinese garden to wander through.
Puppet theater: Have your own puppet theater at home using characters from nursery rhymes, and let them help you make the puppets.
Games: Puzzles, memory games, board games, card games! Children love puzzles. Use your craft skills and draw some memory cards, these could be as simple as ABCs with the upper- and lower-case letters. Invest in some great board games for younger children. Puzzles and any type of trivia keep your children active.
Cooking: Have your children help prepare a meal. Cook a cake or some cookies, even just have them put a salad together. Make sure a parent is always supervising.
Sand play: Use a corner of your backyard and create a sand pit. Invest in some simple sand-play toys that the children can use for pouring and building with the sand.
Climbing activities: Have a swing set or jungle gym in your yard. It will encourage the use of gross motor skills in your children.
Encourage creative and imaginary play: Create a club house in the backyard to sit and have tea parties.
Learn an instrument together: It’s a thrill for both child and parent to play a duet together on guitars, a piano, etc.
Older children (ages 6-12)
Scrapbooks: Have your child collect photos and make his or her own pages in a scrapbook. Use glitter, pens, shapes, ribbon–whatever your child can find.
Collecting: Encourage your child to start a collection. Leaves, feathers, rocks, and even train tickets that they may find while walking.
Scouts/Brownies: A wholesome family activity. These groups will get your child into something besides computer games and will encourage life skills. Scouts and Brownies (junior [girl] scouts) will also encourage a love of the outdoors.
Knitting/sewing: As a parent it is fun to teach your children new things. Have your child assist with creating a pillow, using simple sewing stitches. Encourage them to sew simple clothing from pieces of fabric from their old clothes for their dolls.
Hiking/orienteering: A great family activity that will keep your children interested and encourage exploration and compass skills.
New friendships: For older children, encourage pen pals to help widen their horizons.
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BEAUTY TREATMENT
By Gabriela DeLorenzo
It was one of those days. Looking in the mirror first thing confirmed what I had feared the day before. While baking chocolate cookies with the kids, I had snitched just a bit too much of the batter. My complexion was like a teenager’s at the height of puberty. The knowledge that we would have guests for lunch made me groan as I took in my surroundings. The kids had managed to make the deep-cleaning job I had done less than 24 hours earlier look like it had never happened. By the time I was done cleaning up again, my hair was disheveled and my clothes scarcely resembled the fresh ones I had put on that morning.
As I wearily changed three-year-old Jordan’s clothes for the second time in as many hours, he stroked my cheek and looked straight into my eyes. “Mommy, you’re beautiful!” he said.
Instantly I felt better. Not that I felt I looked any better, but I felt that warm, contented feeling from knowing that I was loved. I thought about that as I got on with the day, and I made it a point to look for the best in people and compliment them for the beauty I found.
The magic bond between fathers and their kids
By Ross Atkin, The Christian Science Monitor
As a magician, Giovanni Livera realizes the power that small, playful, entertaining acts can have to amaze or delight. Their importance in parenting, he’s convinced, should not be underestimated.
“Parents are providers and teachers, but they are also entertainers,” he says, “And when parents are gone, the one thing children will remember most with positive memories is how their parents played.”
Mr. Livera still enjoys his own parents, and shares in a new book–The Amazing Dad: More Than 400 Ways to Wow Your Kids ($12.95, Perigee Books)–some of the special things his dad, a hairstylist, did with him as a boy.
In particular, some of Livera’s top childhood memories are the simple forts his father fashioned, using seat cushions and clotheslines.
He also fondly remembers how the two of them would create a mound of sand on the beach, dig a tunnel from either side, and shake hands in the middle, or construct a miniature golf course from sand.
The beauty of such shared time has been driven home to him while working as a corporate enter tainer and motivational speaker who appears at many conventions around the U.S.
“For some reason, I don’t know why, dads are the designated entertainers of the family,” Livera says. The entertainment they provide doesn’t need to be funny, Livera says, yet levity can help forge solid links.
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people,” he observes. “If my dad can teach me how to speak, how to eat, and use good manners, that’s one thing. If he can provide food and shelter, that’s ano ther. But if he can create a state of wonder, and we can laugh together, that balances the whole picture.”
Livera doesn’t think a parent should constantly try to entertain a child, but having a repertoire of fun ways to occasionally delight and astonish them can work wonders.
“This is a fun part of being a father–a wonderful part of parenting–and I’m only trying to enhance it a bit,” Livera says.
One point he makes repeatedly during a phone interview is that when passion and talent colli de, special things happen in life.
He credits his dad with encouraging this collision by printing business cards for him when he was a 10-year-old budding magician who performed for neighbors.
Years later, in 1991, he won the world sleight-of-hand championship, and today counts such companies as American Express, Dell Computer, and Walt Disney Corp. among his business clients.
To be an amazing dad, Livera believes, doesn’t come simply from reading a book and spending time with children. “I t’s about having fun and being in the moment,” he says. “You can’t just go through the motions; you’ve got to be having fun yourself.”
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Some quotes on children and parents…
A Mother is like a Goddess to her children.
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As sons grow older, Fathers grow smarter. 
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People who sleep like a baby probably don’t have one.
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As beauty is reflected by a looking glass … so too is the love of a mother mirrored in her children’s smiles.
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Training a child is like painting a masterpiece.
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Every minute that you spend with your children is prime time.
You’re on stage, so to speak, influencing & teaching them by your words & behaviour–whether you want to or not. So, in parent-child relationships, spending time together is not enough.
To make that time meaningful it must be quality time. Careful thought & planning must be a prerequisite for successful parenting.
Take time today..
…. & the days to follow, to write down the names of your spouse & children. Beside each name record the deeds that you can do to meet their needs. This doesn’t mean spoiling them! The needs that your family has are found in abundance in the areas of the value they feel you afford them, the time you spend with them, the hugs, the encouragement, the little love notes of praise, & the countless acts of lovingkindness in good times & bad times.
Two plus! …
Somehow a fellow can’t express
While through the years he’s walked and talked
And laughed and played with Dad.
He cannot put in words the love–
The pride that wells within,
The admiration in his heart,
Whene’er Dad looks at him.
Dad is the hero of his dreams,
The king upon the throne,
The pattern for that ideal life
Which he would make his own…
(from a poem of Alvis B. Christiansen)
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A tip from a friend…
Are you keeping a growth chart for your kids?
Kids have so much fun watching and keeping track of their growth and progress every six months or so.
Marking their height on a wall chart gives them a visual view of the changes they are making that they otherwise don’t notice.
It can be used to help motivate good eating habits, too, as you point out how much healthy “raw materials” they need to eat in order to build their bodies as they grow!
It happened to me!
From the encouraging comment from a friend, I got the idea of writing down a few of my funny experiences with my children, as I am sure that many dear parents can relate to it.
When I had to come back to Italy from Venezuela, my oldest son was 11 and I had had my ninth baby,who was only one month old at that time. You can imagine the scene: my husband and I with nine little fellows, all very close age-wise!
I had one steward running after me with my hand-bag, that I had forgotten somwhere while checking-in(how sweet of him)! And though the kids were happy and helpful, it was still a challenge, to say the least, to get in safely.
When we finally made it to our places inside the airplane, and I was looking forward to sit down and get some kind of rest, my three years old girl piped up with the most curious, excited, booming tone of voice she could possibly have:
“Mommy, what happens if, when the airplane is flying it falls down?”
Right away it seemed that all the passengers turned around at once! and perplexed!
I couldn’t help but I broke down laughing! It was hilarious, and it got contagious! At least, we got everyone brightening up, and maybe chasing fears away with a good laugh!
