Reflections On Father's Day

Today is Father's Day, my second blog. Ironically, my first blog was written last month on my Dad's birthday. It was also Mother's Day, although I didn't mention it at the time. We lost my Mother 11 years ago on Mother's Day weekend. In fact, Mother's Day that year (1998) fell on my Dad's birthday, just as it did this year. That was a tough day.

Fast-forward 11 years and I find myself in the "man cave" banging out a little gibberish on the keyboard early on a Sunday morning. The wife and kids are all still sleeping soundly. The dogs have all been outside and are curled up for another nap as well. I've had a cup of coffee and I'm ready to go!

For the record, the "man cave" is not some lavish palace kind of place. However, the previous owners of our home had the foresight to finish out a little 10' x 10' space that leads to the attic. The first time we looked at the house, it was immediately dubbed "the man cave". It has carpet, a light (switch included), two wall plugs and a phone plug. Most importantly, it has space for my computer, desk and television (decor my wife certainly would not allow anywhere else in the house). With a couple of golf pictures on the wall, it's all I need. If there was a toilet in here, the family would never see me!

For me personally, Father's Day is just another day. We'll leave as a family for Lubbock this morning for our oldest daughter's basketball game. Yes I know, we are missing church... not a good thing. My preacher has a difficult time with youth sports interfering with church. Rightfully so. Hopefully, we will return home in time for the wife and I to get in nine holes of golf before heading into the work week.

As a son, I will think of my Dad all day long. He'll spend the day at his house in Dumas with his faithful companion, Buffy (his golden retriever also known as "Her Highness"). No one will ever know all the things he has done for me. I'll give him a call and that will suffice for him. He certainly wants no theatre production made of this day. We'll have lunch later in the week. No fanfare, no pomp and circumstance, just a casual father and son get-together, hopefully with the wife and grandkids in tow.

I'll think of my Father-In-Law today as well. He has certainly been very good to me over the years. He worked hard to provide for his wife and three children. Most importantly to me, he is a wonderful Granddad to my three children.

On this Father's Day, I also think of my close friends who too are fathers. Craig will have Kenna today and I know how special that is for him. Kim's girls are in San Angelo away at college for the summer. Perhaps, he and Pam will join me and "my Kim" on the golf course this evening. Even though Bill doesn't have any kids of his own, I guarantee he is helping make someone's Father's Day more special by offering a helping hand or cooking dinner for some family.

So what does any of this hoo-haw have to do with the youth sports industry? In my humble opinion... EVERYTHING!!!

Being a father is about leadership. Plain and simple. My girls would let me stay and play golf all day if I wanted to. They would probably have more fun in Lubbock without me, but would never tell me so. Nevertheless, my role today is to be the bus driver to and from Lubbock, spend quality time with my wife and kids and serve as the number one cheerleader for my child during her game today.

A father is not singularly defined as being the male parent. Think about how many kiddos today have two parents that both work. Our kids certainly fall into this category. What about the single parents out there that work their tails off and still find time to spend with their children?

Children today spend far less quality time with their parents than when I was a child. With the invention of the internet, high-tech video games, cell phones and other such influences, the role of the parent is more important today than ever before.

So to all the fathers out there, here is my wish for you today. Raise a child who is both strong and respectable. Be there when they need a shoulder to cry on. Be their friend, but also a disciplinarian when called for. Be their coach, their adviser and their support system.

Regardless of your personal situation, fathers MUST be leaders. So go out today and lead your children. Show your son how to be a good father. Demonstrate to your daughter what a good father looks like so when she marries someday, perhaps she will look for those qualities in a husband.

Happy Father's Day!