I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately.
My plate is overflowing right now with writing, working with clients, shooting videos, updating social media frequently, and trying to finish several new products.
Yep, my days are literally filled with things to do but none of those things matter much in comparison to what is really on my mind; my daughters.
It’s been 2.5 years since I was first separated and as great as things are going for me these days, it still breaks my heart every Monday when I have to drop them off.
I know I won’t seen them again until Friday night and although it’s really only a few days in between, I feel a deep sense of sadness and loss the moment they leave me.
Being away from them forces me to think about my limited time with them. Am I doing enough? Am I setting a good example? Am I teaching them the right things?
Maybe it will get better, maybe it won’t. In either case, I spend much of my time thinking about them, how their lives are and how their lives will turn out.
And much of that is resting on my shoulders. As it should be.
As single dads, we are faced with the incredibly challenging task of teaching our children how to be good people, to love and respect each other, how to choose right over wrong, and a thousand other things.
It’s also the most amazing opportunity we will ever have. Whether we find another woman, remarry, or stay single forever, it is our jobs as dads to be a rock and a hero for our sons and daughters.
It is our job to protect them, love them, and help them grow into well adjusted adults.
In today’s video, I share some of my personal story and pose a message to you all:
Are you being the best role model, mentor, and dad you can be right now?
If not, change.
I know there are many things I can improve on and work hard every week to be a better dad. Our kids only get one shot at their childhood and we as fathers need to make sure they are learning the right things and from the right people.
I’d love to hear from you, so drop a comment here, on Facebook, or YouTube.
While your observations are made with fathers in mind, they also pertain to those in my profession: teaching. I work with elementary school kids. Their minds are little sponges — meaning no matter how much you pour into them, it all drips out the bottom.
No, wait, that’s not what I meant. What I mean is, kids are impressionable. And many of them come from broken homes – not just separated parents who each still want the best for their kids, but from seriously bad situations that you’d rather not think about. School is often the only place offering a sense of security and stability for some of these kids. As an adult, it’s particularly important to set a good example for these kids, as the behaviors they see from other adults in their lives may not be something worth emulating.
And then, of course, there are the kids from stable, normal, well-adjusted families. They know what “normal” is, so it’s just as important to come across as a reasonably well-adjusted “authority figure” adult lest you find the school board breathing down your neck! 😉
Finally… fitness for teachers should be a requirement! Kids are nuts, man! Sometimes you gotta, like. run after ’em and stuff! And kids don’t respect fat, sweaty guys who can’t catch ’em!
Does your t-shirt say “One more brew?” That’s cool! Love the background in this video, too! What a gorgeous day! I was hoping at the end of the clip you’d jog down the hill, vault over the fence, and toss a couple of rocks!
LOL David. And yes my shirt does say that. I think I got it a Kohl’s and although probably not the perfect message to share while training, it’s a damn comfortable shirt!!
Awesome.. I follow you few weeks ago and your messages so inspired to me.. I divorced few months ago… Your videos and quotes give me a lot of motivations… Thanks coach..