Hello, Rick here again. Linda gets back later today and she can write about something other than Hockey. But I thought I would share a couple of thoughts about what I think is important on being a Dad. I just finished an email to the parents on Austin’s hockey team. I wanted to make them aware of what is really important this coming Hockey season. The following is the body of what I wrote but it doesn’t just apply to Hockey moms and dads…it applies to all parents, grandparents as well as anyone who wants to make or keep friends. The art of conversation seems to be taking a back seat in our culture and it is because we are letting it!
“Travel Hockey is a long season but the reward will happen along the way as well as at the end of the year. The progression of our hockey players will definately be noticed come March but the reward along the way will be in the form of a closer relationship with your girl or boy. The travel time to the rink is such an important time and I feel it should be used for our benefit as parents and the benefit of our kids. What I have tried to do especially last year was to turn off the radio and not allow Austin to play his iPod while we travelled. This in turn, forced both of us to have to dialogue with each other. At first there was a lot of dead air but as the year progressed we talked in depth and I learned more and more about my son. Don’t get me wrong, there were times when all I wanted to do was to go to my “empty box” (as my wife, Linda calls it) and veg! I began to realize that he had goals and dreams that I had no clue about. It was fun to get closer to Austin on a level different than that of hockey. When we as parents take the lead and put our focused time and effort into our most prized possessions, the year won’t feel so long and we will have fun a long the way!”
So hang up the cell phone, put away the iPod, read that book when they are in bed, get off the computer, exercise before they get up, take them with you when you go places, have them cook/bake with you, have them fix the car with you, take them out for some one-on-one time, take them to church, schedule time at the end of the day to tuck them into bed and talk to them, read the Bible to them, if you are doing something and they ask a question stop what you are doing and look at them in the eyes and listen, don’t let your mind wander when talking with them, don’t be impatient, answer softly, pray with them, hug them daily, kiss them daily and tell them you love them constantly!!!
My Sister's Jar 