My dad was a busy man. He was the head of quality control at Nestles, a school board member, a member of Toastmasters International, Investment Club, and a Master Mason. He did however make family time. I was the only child and getting to do something with my dad was something I always looked forward to when he had the time. It was special. He has been dead and gone now for 31 years but those memories of doing things with him will always remain with me. I hope that the dad in the family will make time for his sons and or daughters as well. Those are the moments that are cherished.
I will list some of the things that my dad did with me to give some dads out there some ideas. They aren’t huge expensive things. It involves time, nothing more. Dad and I went to the high school football games together. I wasn’t even in high school, but being on the board of education, he went there to support them and it was our Saturday afternoon together. When the weather was snowy, he and I would go sledding. He might not have gone down the sled with me every time, but he was there to give me a push, laugh when I fell off, and there to coach me how to steer. We had a hobby together. We collected coins. We would sit for hours and sort out coins that were valuable or able to make a complete set. Dad took me to the state fair and the county fair. He wasn’t one for rides but he did love to go on the double Ferris wheel. We would get stuck at the top and he would rock it back and forth and I would scream. Funny now, but not back then!
Around the house, Dad and I were in charge of Thanksgiving dressing. He had his own recipe and everyone loved it. We were also in charge of the countless rose bushes that he cherished and babied. When there was a household project to be done, I was right by his side. He never told me I was too young. He was always willing to show me how to do plumbing, hang wallpaper, paint, or hang paneling. (Yes, this was in the early 70s when paneling was the thing.)
Believe it or not, he would take me hunting. Even though he was a very good hunter, we never shot anything when I was with him. I think it was more of a nature adventure than a hunting trip when I went with him. He would point out tracks, where the deer fed, different trees, mosses, etc. Hunting was a way to show me how to get the dogs ready, field train them, how to use a gun if needed and how to track. Those were things that I have never needed to use, but still remember in case I ever have to recall that lesson.
We skip to the present and take a look at my husband what he does with his son. Let me preface this with the fact that my husband is clinically disabled due to a back injury sustained at work in 1988. It always bothered him that he would not be able to wrestle and be physical with his sons growing up and how could he be a good father with that type of an injury. His worries were unfounded. With the advent of gaming systems he has fallen right into the groove years ago of playing with them. It was never for long periods of time as we both believe our boys needed to be outside playing. He could toss a ball back and forth with them. He could show them how to shoot a BB gun. Our sons never thought much about hunting so my husband didn’t have to teach them that.
But what he did do for our boys, and many hundreds of other boys, is become involved in Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts. He was the Scoutmaster for a troop for 16 years. He was able to teach them about nature, go on walks, and track animals. He taught them to be gentlemen, honest and good. He taught them respect for all living creatures and each other. It has been his lifeblood until he retired from scouting two years ago.
There is fishing, bowling, playing catch, snowmobiling, skiing, playing cards, nature walks, home repairs, all a father can do with his son, or for that matter, his daughter. No father was busier than my father was with meetings and responsibilities he had. But somewhere along the line, he always made time for me. Always a lesson in our play or work as well. There are no excuses for a father to be too busy for his family. And simple things are often the best.