My Daddy

Some things I know and remember about my daddy - He is one of the most Christ like men I know - meek, humble, confident, kind, considerate, caring, dependable.
He is a great man; great father, great husband; responsible employee.
He very much likes routine. Everyday is pretty much the same for him. Growing up, he woke up the same time everyday and would shower, shave, get dressed, have breakfast and leave for work. I'm pretty sure he would read his Bible in there somewhere, too. I'm just not sure of the order. Once his shoes were on, they were on for the day and didn't come off until it was time for his shower right before bed time. He spent most of his free time studying and preparing for Sunday School lessons or just reading for enjoyment. He always had time for us though if we needed help with anything. He was pretty consistent with his night time shower, too, and it didn't matter if we were sitting there in the room when he came out - he headed to bed any way. He never forgets to pray before a meal and it is pretty much the same prayer all the time but he means it every time - he wants only what is God's will. He is thrifty and is not someone who needs alot of stuff or the latest gadget or gizmo - he is content with what he has. He would figure out a way to make his business trips work for vacations for the family during the summer. I remember one time getting free haircuts at a school he was checking out and we were able to go to the Grand Canyon, Petrafied Forest and some other cool places out that way. We seemed to always have car trouble on those trips but that never seemed to stop him or concern him too much. I remember one trip sitting on the side of a dessert road in the middle of no where and then the next thing we know we are sitting on the porch of some stranger in Globe, Arizona, just visiting and chatting like we were family. The auto mechanic was not open for the weekend so we stayed there in Globe, Arizona with some really nice people until our car was fixed. No worries. Another time daddy had to test a speed reading course so he signed us up as a family and we all participated - it didn't matter that I could barely read - he was sure it would be beneficial to me and I think it was. There were a couple of things that bugged him. He didn't like to have to order my cheeseburger plain from McDonald's but he always would and one time I had gotten some hirachi sandles for Christmas and they broke a day or two after I got them - he was so mad - he walked over to the store where my mom had bought them and made them give me another pair even though he didn't like them and couldn't understand why I wanted them. He also didn't like it when I wouldn't try my asparagus - he thought he was going to have to take me to the bathroom but I think I ended up trying it so that didn't have to happen. I don't really remember much about discpline other than he had a skinny little belt that he said he would use if he needed to but I do remember one time leaning over the bed but I don't remember the spanking just the hug afterwards - I don't even know what I did. He is the best daddy ever.

Write a book

Someone said to me that they told someone else that Terry and I should write a book and that got me to thinking - what would I write. Their comment was in reference to raising kids because they, like me, think my kids are wonderful and for some reason they thought it had to do with Terry and me but I don't know that that is totally accurate. I think if I were to write a book about raising kids I would have to start by talking about our parents and how they raised Terry and me and more importantly how they prayed for us and then prayed for each of our kids. That would be the biggest point I could point to. Then thinking more about that and how we were raised I was thinking about my parents and the way they were. I think I will probably some day just sit down and write stuff about each of my parents and different things they did and what I learned from them. Terry and I have also been invited to join the young marrieds for their monthly marriage get-together to share with them how we met and stuff and then to answer questions they have for us. I've had a bunch of thoughts I would love to share with them so I'm probably going to post some of those thoughts sometime, too.  For now, tho, here are some random thoughts about parenting:
-Love and Respect your spouse - keep that relationship healthy and happening
-Live the life you want them to live - be a good example, a Christ-like example
-Respect them - they are a precious creation God has entrusted to you worthy of the same respect you are worthy of.
- Assure them often of your love no matter what they do - let them know that nothing will change that.
- Do more than just give them commands all the time - show and interest in them as a person
-Remind them of who they are -a child of the King! - and that certain behaviors are not becoming to a prince/princess and even instill pride in a family heritage, "You're a Stockholm with Sumrall, Darrow, Johnson in you and that's pretty special!"
- Don't use embarrassing them as a form of punishment or behavior correction - usually just makes you look awful and humiliates the child doing nothing for their self-esteem
- Talk to them
-Care about them and their friends - don't see them as a bother/a pain/in the way.
-Remember that you are the parent and it's not something you have to prove - it just is!
- Routine and consistency is good for a child but do allow for some flexibility so life isn't too rigid
-Remind them that you say no to some things because you love them and want the best for them and explain the negatives of that choice if they make it - "don't touch the hot stove because it will burn you" "don't run out into the street because a car might not see you." etc.