Happy FAther's Day

Men will not hesitate to tell you that they cannot figure out how a woman thinks.  The fact of the matter is that the same is true for women.  The male mentality boggles the female mind.

For example, men tend to be very direct.  Sometimes too direct, which therefore makes them insensitive.  They don't understand that, but instead feel that they are cutting right to the chase.  Women drop hints.  For example, "That chair needs to be fixed", rather than "Would you please fix that chair tonight?"  Now, I don't know who the man of the house thinks the hint is being tossed to if it isn't him, but.... more often than not, the chair doesn't get fixed. 

My point in this has to do with raising children.  My new catch phrase to them (even though they are adults, there is still raising to do!) is that I can only genetically override so much.  What you have has come from two gene pools, and although I did my best, sometimes those oddities from their dad sneak through!  There are times I look at my sons, and hear their father's voice.  I hear the odd statements and jokes that he makes, and I shake my head.  In all honestly, sometimes when I talk, I hear my mother's voice.  Many times when my daughter's speak, they use the exact same sentences that I do.  It only gets weird when we say the sentence at the exact same time.

Part of mothering is to teach your children new and better things than the what your parents did and the things they taught you.  As a parent, when your children are adults, married or new parents themselves, it is sometimes difficult to stay out of the way.  At other times, it is a pleasure to watch how they have developed into amazing young men and women. 

And then.... they do something EXACTLY like their dad!  Just kidding!  Their father has been amazing to them through the years.  He would get up at 3:00 am to change a diaper.  He would yell at me for feeding them PopTarts, but teach them how great maple sugar candy is.  He tries hard not to lose his temper when they borrow his tools and return them in a slightly different condition.  He has calmed my storms and occasionally saved their necks when I have had enough!  Even though we think quite differently, he is the ying to my yang! 

With seven children and now spouses, fiancées, significant others and grandchildren, Father's Day at our house has a very special meaning.  The card I gave to Doc said that Father's Day is in June, because after Mother's Day someone said "Hey!  Wait a minute!"
Whether that is true or not, I don't know.  What I do know is that our children are very blessed to have a "Pops" who has been there for them from the minute they arrived!  I hope all of you had a very blessed Father's Day and that the rest of your week is spent loving your dad more each day!