Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, I had the chance to talk to a really good friend of mine who lives back east.  He is celebrating his 50th, no 60th, just kidding his 40th birthday, and He doesn't look a day over thirty.  So what does this have to do with my blog, lots.  My good friend has had to raise his two children by himself after their mother decided to get up and walk out of their life some years ago, we have spent considerable time talking about the emotions that this had on him and how he has struggled to do something that mostly moms get stuck with.

Today he happened to mention to me that he was afraid for his daughter to start in the local public middle school next year, this is were I come into the mix.  I have struggles to get him to move out west not because the school system is better but I can offer him a support system for the coming years.  I want to bring this up because dads often find themselves at the short end of the stick when it comes to caring for their children or wanting to be better at being a dad. 

We are at a fork in our educational future, one that has brought us choices such as cutting teachers to bring better technology into the classroom, send your child to an alternative school which offers the ability to teach to your child's learning ability, even private schools which while they have good teachers they also cost your retirement future.  So what is there for a father who may seem lost and not sure of the education available for her daughter.

There are plenty of choices, I want to let him know that her education started the day his ex-wife left him to raise the children.  His daughter has seen the importance of keeping your head up and never letting life get you down, that hard work will pay off.  This is the education that a father brings to the table, we teach our children that while the jobs we do offer us the ability to put food on the table, pay the bills and the things that the family needs, but as a father we always would like to see our children have the chance for something more, that starts with a dad sharing in the experiences that brought him to were he is and how important it is to always be exploring your world with books and questions.

The time is now for parents to look at the direction education is taking and decide which fork will you take or will you start preparing them by offering them the chance to read books and partake in everyday activities that will help build a foundation of learning.  Dads we need to step up and take them by the hand and make their education one that starts with us and continues with us, school should be there as a supporting system for the foundations that you really can teach from your home.  I believe that this is the direction of education that has been missing for sometime, with our governments "no child left behind", it starts at home and that is were the responsibility is.

Until next time teach them something exciting

Great holiday

It happens to have brought itself to my attention that my children really love this holiday, that to them is all about the lighting of fireworks, it is such a sight to watch them in the rearview window as we drive by a fireworks stand.  It's like Christmas they start yelling and screaming for us to stop and buy fireworks, and when can we see them.  Then I start to think have I let them in on why it is that we celebrate this lone holiday in the middle of the summer, I have not.  Does that take away from their love of the spectacle, no not at all.  It does however let me as their father, take into account that I should be filling them in on how some holidays come about and what is the big deal about fireworks and picnics. 

So Monday being the fourth I thought I would make it a point to remind them during the day just what it is that we are celebrating, that they have family and friends that have helped them to gain the freedoms we share on this day.  I want them to have that feeling that I have when the fireworks are going off, that feeling of greatness and love for being an american and having the ability to do and have the things I have.  We are always wanting to bash the men who we as a majority have elected to any office and make it this war on words against one party or another, but never looking to solve it on a level which is easy to reach.

I wish to convey my dearest wish for our  children to know that while those who are making choices were the best we could get at that moment, that their parents looked at them and took it upon themselves to do everything they could to help them in their education and understanding of the world they are growing up in.   It is our duty as it was the duty of our founding fathers to prepare a place that offers us the freedoms and enjoyments we have this day, though at times it may not seem as though it is there we as parents must know it is still the greatest nation under all that is seen in the news bad or simply unbeleivable, we are the hope the founding fathers were fighting for.

So until next time remember the future you want for your children and prepare them with an education from the best teacher, you.