jone
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2012
- Messages
- 1,808
These past few weeks have been crazy for my family. My daughter graduated from preschool, then turned five a week later. We went to see Thomas the Train at a wonderful amusement park in the mountains of NC (Tweetsie Railroad) - my son is obsessed with this little blue engine! And today, we celebrate my little boy's third birthday. Finally I feel like we will be able to slow down a little. And as they are resting this afternoon before the big party - well the biggest party a 3 year old can have - I started thinking about being a parent and the upcoming Father's Day. As a mom I feel very blessed to have two wonderful children. Often times I feel like I fail them in so many ways. I suppose all parents feel that way at times. But as I think about being a parent now and all the responsibilities involved, it makes me appreciate my parents even more than ever.
I have the best parents in the world. You might think yours are the best, but you're wrong. Mine are!
Seriously, both of my parents made sacrifices for us and raised us to be good honorable people. For that I am grateful. And although this post will mostly be about my father, my mother is just as dear to my heart.
My dad was never a complicated man. He grew up in near poverty conditions and spent summers helping his grandfather on the farm and at the granite quarry he owned. He learned to make commitments and keep them, set goals and achieve them, be responsible and reap the rewards of hard work. He made his way in the world with little help from his parents. He was never bitter or angry about his misfortunes, but he did strive to be better. Life can make you bitter or better - choose better. That was his moto. He wanted to be more and do more and he did. Not once in my 40 years have I heard him make an excuse, put someone down, or stop working before the job was done. His coworkers referred to him as Iron Man - if George couldn't do it, nobody could. And they were right. He outworked kids half his age and can still put everyone I know to shame at 64. If someone called in need of help, he went. He would give his last dollar to help a stranger, and on more than one occasion I witnessed him do just that. His heart is as big as an ocean and his love just as deep. Growing up I remember him teaching me to ride a bike, mow the yard, use his tools, roof a house, throw a ball, respect adults, plant a garden, love your family. My dad is amazing.
Let me give you an example. Two and a half years ago I was carrying my daughter down our front steps when I stumbled and stepped off the side of our sidewalk. I fractured my ankle and had surgery two days later. With a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old I had no idea what I was going to do for 6 weeks with crutches and bearing no weight on my ankle. My mom still works full time, so my dad volunteered to help. For 6 weeks he drove an hour in the morning and afternoon to help with the kids while my husband was at work. He mowed the yard, helped me with the kids, cleaned up the house and washed dishes. He took them so I could rest and made sure I was able to focus on getting better. He never missed a day. That's the kind of dad I have.
As he has gotten older, he has more difficulty doing things as easily as he once did. He suffers from arthritis and post-polio syndrome and his muscles and joints have deteriorated over the years. Add injuries to the mix and he's a little slower and stiffer than he used to be, but he is still the smartest and strongest man I know in more ways than I can count. Whenever something comes up, I still call dad first, because dad will know. I consider myself very blessed to have been raised by my parents. Today, too many people don't want to be parents. But I'm glad mine did.
And more importantly, I'm glad my kids have the joy and pleasure of knowing my dad.
My dad was never a knife nut, but he did carry a traditional for many years. Now he rarely carries a knife - except on special occasions, like today - where there will be presents and a definite need to remove packaging as quickly as possible for the impatient 3 year old. But he was the first person I really saw with a knife and probably where my interest in traditional knives became rooted.
Here is a picture of him with my mother and a few toys he passed down to me a few years ago. These mostly stay up and out of reach, but they are always close to my heart, just like my dad.
So, I said all of that to say this - Thanks to all the good fathers, grandfathers, and uncles here on this forum. I know from the stories there are many. You do make a difference and you are more important than you will ever be able to fully understand. And to my dad, I say a BIG THANKS! You are the best! And I am one lucky little girl to call you DAD!
Happy Father's Day!
I have the best parents in the world. You might think yours are the best, but you're wrong. Mine are!
Seriously, both of my parents made sacrifices for us and raised us to be good honorable people. For that I am grateful. And although this post will mostly be about my father, my mother is just as dear to my heart.My dad was never a complicated man. He grew up in near poverty conditions and spent summers helping his grandfather on the farm and at the granite quarry he owned. He learned to make commitments and keep them, set goals and achieve them, be responsible and reap the rewards of hard work. He made his way in the world with little help from his parents. He was never bitter or angry about his misfortunes, but he did strive to be better. Life can make you bitter or better - choose better. That was his moto. He wanted to be more and do more and he did. Not once in my 40 years have I heard him make an excuse, put someone down, or stop working before the job was done. His coworkers referred to him as Iron Man - if George couldn't do it, nobody could. And they were right. He outworked kids half his age and can still put everyone I know to shame at 64. If someone called in need of help, he went. He would give his last dollar to help a stranger, and on more than one occasion I witnessed him do just that. His heart is as big as an ocean and his love just as deep. Growing up I remember him teaching me to ride a bike, mow the yard, use his tools, roof a house, throw a ball, respect adults, plant a garden, love your family. My dad is amazing.
Let me give you an example. Two and a half years ago I was carrying my daughter down our front steps when I stumbled and stepped off the side of our sidewalk. I fractured my ankle and had surgery two days later. With a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old I had no idea what I was going to do for 6 weeks with crutches and bearing no weight on my ankle. My mom still works full time, so my dad volunteered to help. For 6 weeks he drove an hour in the morning and afternoon to help with the kids while my husband was at work. He mowed the yard, helped me with the kids, cleaned up the house and washed dishes. He took them so I could rest and made sure I was able to focus on getting better. He never missed a day. That's the kind of dad I have.
As he has gotten older, he has more difficulty doing things as easily as he once did. He suffers from arthritis and post-polio syndrome and his muscles and joints have deteriorated over the years. Add injuries to the mix and he's a little slower and stiffer than he used to be, but he is still the smartest and strongest man I know in more ways than I can count. Whenever something comes up, I still call dad first, because dad will know. I consider myself very blessed to have been raised by my parents. Today, too many people don't want to be parents. But I'm glad mine did.
And more importantly, I'm glad my kids have the joy and pleasure of knowing my dad.
My dad was never a knife nut, but he did carry a traditional for many years. Now he rarely carries a knife - except on special occasions, like today - where there will be presents and a definite need to remove packaging as quickly as possible for the impatient 3 year old. But he was the first person I really saw with a knife and probably where my interest in traditional knives became rooted.
Here is a picture of him with my mother and a few toys he passed down to me a few years ago. These mostly stay up and out of reach, but they are always close to my heart, just like my dad.
So, I said all of that to say this - Thanks to all the good fathers, grandfathers, and uncles here on this forum. I know from the stories there are many. You do make a difference and you are more important than you will ever be able to fully understand. And to my dad, I say a BIG THANKS! You are the best! And I am one lucky little girl to call you DAD!
Happy Father's Day!
