My boys…Ryan and Dylan
First off….Happy 2015. I hope this post finds you happy, healthy and grateful!
22 things to share with your boys…
Being raised by divorced parents has honestly made me the man I am today. I spent most of my time with my Father so I was taught how to change the oil in my car, pull a motor out of a VW (in less than 20 minutes), mow the yard, replace a broken window (back when they were single pane held with putty) fix anything around the house, etc. All the typical guy things. He even reminded me over and over to never, ever…burn a bridge (which has helped tremendously!)
When I was with my Mother (every other weekend until she moved to Northern California at which time it became all summer…) I was taught how to cook, sew, use my artistic talent of drawing and cartooning, ironing…etc. All the typical (what I then thought was) women things.
Now that I am 35, um…I mean 40…okay what the hell “46” and raising two boys with my amazing wife of 17+ years….I am trying so damn hard to pass down all the things that my parents taught me…which continue, to this day, to be major part of my daily life.
The following are 22 things that I think every Father (and/or Mother) should tell their boys. As for me, these are for now…and in the future!
- Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect authority, work with others, mage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even to, kick, throw or catch a ball.
- You will set the tone for your sexual relationship, so don’t take something away from her that you can’t give back.
- Use careful aim when you pee. There are people in the house that may need to sit there…and they should not have to clean up after you.
- Save money when you are young because you’re going to need it someday.
- Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum and broom. Now please go use them.
- Pray and be a spiritual leader. Believe in some higher power.
- Don’t ever be a bully and don’t ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.
- Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.
- Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it’s even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.
- Take pride in you appearance.
- Be strong and tender at the same time.
- A women can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing a diaper at 3 A.M. Mutual respects is the key to a good relationship.
- “Yes ma’am” and “yes sir” still go a long way. So do “Good Morning”, “Good Afternoon” and “Good Evening”..
- Learn and love to cook. You need to be able to take care of yourself on your own, which includes eating right. Learning and loving to cook will go a long way when you are older! Believe me…just wait till you cook a meal for your first girlfriend!
- Make giving to Charity or Community Service part of your life. Do it because it is the right thing and never expect anything in return. (Because when you give…you will definitely get back!)
- Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follows.
- Bringing her flowers or sending her a card for no reason is always a good idea. (And post the card…it is always a nice surprise to get something in the mail other than a bill!)
- It is better to be kind than to be right.
- A sense of humor goes a long way in the healing process.
- Read, Read, Read.
- Please choose your spouse wisely. Our daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for your Mother and I spending time with you and our grandchildren.
- Remember to call your parents because we might be missing you. Even though my Mother lived hundreds of miles away from me, we spoke at least twice a week…every week!
