| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 8:56:35 AM | Happy Father’s Day …
1st off I’d like to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there in POF Land! If you are like me … your children are now young adults & in the process of raising their own family, beginning their careers & just getting on with their lives in general.
I’ve written several forum threads in which I discussed my difficulties in adjusting to being single & not being in a serious relationship. Since I married when I was still quite young & stayed married for a very long time … 30 yrs, before my divorce 4 yrs ago – this whole dating thing is still a really new gig to me. Another reason that I think I’ve struggled with my new single life is that my divorce was occurring at just about the same time my son was preparing to leave for college & his sister had already moved out & was on her own. So not only did my & ex & I end our 35 yr relationship but my dad responsibilities were evolving from a full-time to part-time job.
Looking back becoming a dad was a real learning experience & just like my single life today ... required a lot of adjustments. For example, I remember when we brought my daughter home from the hospital & placed her in her crib in 1 corner of our bedroom. There was a lot of joy but very little sleep for those 1st nights. Every time she made a sound I found myself jumping up to check on her. And every time my wife would reassure me that everything was okay. When my son came along 4 yrs later, a tornado could come through our bedroom & I wouldn’t have stirred. Obviously I made the appropriate adjustment.
I worked way too many hours in those early years of my daughter’s life … convinced that I was doing the right thing by earning a living to support my family. Consequently I had fewer hours to spend with her. Before I knew it the work hours took their toll & I ended up having a heart attack at a very early age. Looking back I view that heart attack as a wake up call. It was like God looked down & said … Gary you need to re-think what you are doing! And that’s exactlu what I did while I was recovering from that health scare. I realized that I could never get those hours back to spend with my children that I had spent at work. Again, I made an adjustment. I cut back on my work hours & spent more time getting involved in my children’s activities.
In the process of becoming a better dad I think we become a better people. I’m very grateful for recognizing the need & then having the commitment to make those adjustments as a new dad. As a result, every Father’s Day I pause to replay all of those priceless memories of the past. Memories like my daughter’s & son’s 1st day of school, my daughter’s dance recitals, my son’s 1st baseball & football games, my daughter delivering my 1st grand child, my son’s graduation from college & the police academy.
I’m sure there are a lot of people today trying to find that “perfect” gift to give their dad as a show of their love & respect for everything he did for them. But in my case it really doesn’t matter whether I get another weird looking tie or my 10th socket set kit … I’ve got my gift already … all those old home movies that I can replay in my mind.
I ran across the following 10 things that you will never hear a dad say & I hope you enjoy them as much as I did …
Top 10 Things You’ll Never Hear A Dad Say …
1. Well, how ’bout that?... I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop & ask for directions.
2. You know Pumpkin, now that you’re 13, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car
dates. Won’t that be fun?
3. I noticed that all your friends have a certain “up yours” attitude.... I like that.
4. Here’s a credit card and the keys to my new car—go crazy.
5. What do you mean you wanna play football? Figure skating not good enough for
you, son?
6. Your Mother & I are going away for the weekend... you might want to consider
throwing a party.
7. Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with your car. Probably one of those doo-hickey
thingies—you know—that makes it run or something. Just have it towed to a
mechanic & pay whatever he asks.
8. No son of mine is going to live under this roof w/out an earring, now quit your belly-
aching, & let’s go to the mall.
9. Whaddya wanna go & get a job for? I make plenty of money for you to spend.
10. I was smoking & drinking a lot at your age.
Here’s hoping all Dad’s Have a Great Day!
Gary | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 9:11:50 AM | That's a good one, Gary!
I find that there is a sad lack of fathers in my family. All of them have passed away, even my children's father, so they don't celebrate father's day either.
However, happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there in POF land! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 9:47:00 AM | My daughter is almost 21 and a very busy young woman and although she still lives here with me we actually see very little of each other.So naturally when she asked what I wanted for father's day I said ...a little bit of your time.She kissed my cheek and said dinner's on her tonight.So I'm sitting here killing time until she gets off work and I'm thinking about my dad...who passed away in 1982...about how much I miss him and how much I wish he could've been here to see his grandkids.And I especially wish he could be here to see that I turned out to be a pretty good dad...just like him.
Happy Father's Day | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:11:14 AM | | Happy Fathers Day to all of you fathers deserving of this day! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:17:46 AM | Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there. My daugher has a surprise for me today and I'm taking my father to his favorite buffet place. I just thank the lord that my 89 year old father is still here to celebrate this wonderful day!  Everyone have a great day! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:18:30 AM | Wingryder,
A sensitive side?The whole post reminds me its not what you get for mothers/fathers day but to to who you spend your time.Thanks for the reminder.
Have a Happy Fathers Day,!!!!
Peggy/Slowburn43 | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:49:45 AM | There are quite a few special fathers that I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with, so to them " Happy Father's Day" from a friend!
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads/Fathers out here in the pond.
I am taking my kids and headed out to my parents to not only celebrate Father's Day but to help them celebrate their "58th" Wedding anniversary.
Have a great Sunday everyone
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:54:51 AM | Happy Father's Day to All....
Mike that was very nice...I cant help but to think your dad is smiling at you today....and your daughter is very lucky to be able to spend the day with you...you both are....
Go show your Dad some love..... | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 10:57:44 AM | Peggy...Wonders never cease huh? Maybe one of these days I'll quit being such a clown and let some of you see who I really am...maybe.
Thanks debbie | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 11:02:37 AM | HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all Dads out there! 
Your Fatherhood is so important! Beyond the precious genes you give your children, whatever you do with your children, and for your children, is a blessing to the future and to all of us. I am glad that men are re-defining the meaning of success as a father. There are so many ways to be a father these days.
I miss my Dad. He was so important to my life. He worked very hard and there was so little time with him. He was a generous Dad who showered us with gifts on Christmas and birthdays.
I always wished I could trade some of the presents and things for more of his time.
And yet, I am proud of what he did to save people's lives--he was a Doctor--and I often see part of him in the things he did while he was here, and the legacy he left.
I have learned from his life even though he didn't lecture me about what he did and why he did it. I learned to look at his actions, his priorities and the results to see what mattered most to him.
I've even learned some from his mistakes, and I understand them better now. I take better care of myself and try to keep a balance in my life, when possible, because I saw him work too hard and develop heart disease. I am generous with my kids, but I know that after a certain point, presents and things don't make as much of a difference in a child's life if earning them takes you away from them too much. Even if it is for a good cause. I do volunteer work, but I have always found work that I can bring them along and we can do it together. I give them my time, but I also give them freedom to have time alone and with friends.
I think I took his level of honesty, integrity, intelligence and passion for granted until I saw how rare they are when I left home.
He used to tell me how proud he was of me. I want to tell him--if he can hear--how proud I am of him, too, even now that he's gone.
From all of us past children to all you current Fathers, Happy Father's Day.
And a very special Happy Father's Day to all of you Father's-to-Be!!!  | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 11:35:21 AM | | From those of us who no longer have fathers or grandfathers to spend time with, Happy Father's Day! Went to the cemetary yesterday with my mom and then we had dinner at Montgomery Inn (Dad's favorite restaurant). Enjoy the time you have with your kids and grandkids... they do grow up and move on way too quickly! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 2:21:13 PM | | ...HAPPY FATHERS DAY, guys!!....make the most of it!!...i miss my dad sooo much always, but today even more so!! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 2:37:45 PM | Happy Father's Day to all the dads and to the moms that are both mom and dad.
Hope you all have a WONDERFUL day! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/15/2008 4:47:31 PM | Today is Father's Day and my sister and I went out to eat after church and realized that resturants were very busy today because of it. We were a bit envious of others because they had that wonderful patriarch still in their lives. My sister is widowed, I am divorced, our dad has been gone now for 20 years and my sons are fathers but they are with their dad today (as they should be). We discussed how we had no one to treat and show our love and appreciation to today that was still alive. Often people take others so for granted. I just want to tell others that my life would certainly not be the same if it were not for that wonderful uneducated country gentleman that pushed me to do what was right, be the best that I could be, get an education, live a good moral life and to be a good parent. He taught me how to love unconditionally. He always loved his family first and foremost. I hope he is aware that he is greatly missed and his memory is cherished by all 5 of his daughters, not just today, but always.
Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's,
Dixie | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/17/2008 10:10:38 PM | This is my first post here (just signed up at POF on Saturday), so I apologize for popping up a somewhat dated thread, but I just had to report on my Father's Day. First off, my oldest boy called me and asked me to come over to see him and his two brothers. When I got there, my ex left to go have lunch with a friend and my boys suprised me with luch they had made themselves - meatloaf, corn and lima bean succotash (yummy!), and mashed potato(e)s. Their mom helped a little, but otherwise they did all the work. It was very good for three boys aged 10, 9, and 8 to have fixed (mostly) themselves.
Stuffed and happy, I went home and checked my email, only to see that my oldest daughter (21), whom I haven't seen but once in the past 6 years, had sent me a "Happy Father's Day" email. The story is too much to go into here, but she and I have been talking through emails since my birthday last year. Now that she's home for the summer from school, I'm hoping we can get together sometime to try to mend some of the problems we had. She said she's up for it, but it may be difficult because her mother (different from the boys' mom) wouldn't like it. TBH, I don't think her mom knows she's talking to me.
Anyway, enough of that. I just wanted to say I had a pretty good Father's Day, which was nice, since I wasn't expecting much of anything. | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/18/2008 6:00:48 AM | Great MaxQ!, it is those little things that can mean the most sometimes. I wish you many more,
Dixie | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/18/2008 9:17:38 AM | | Welcome to the forums MaxxQ! I'm glad you shared with us what happened on your Father's Day. I really enjoy reading about happy things. People becoming reconciled. Kids reunited with their fathers. Keep it coming! | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 6/18/2008 10:01:07 AM |
Welcome to the forums MaxxQ! I'm glad you shared with us what happened on your Father's Day. I really enjoy reading about happy things. People becoming reconciled. Kids reunited with their fathers. Keep it coming!
Thanks for the welcome. Yeah, it was a nice suprise, since these last few years have been pretty painful, especially around Christmas, which was when she told me she didn't want to see me anymore.
Ah, well...enough of the self-pity. Things are looking up and it's time to move on. | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 7/3/2008 8:15:32 PM | This is a belated father's day post (and I may get into trouble for posting a link), but I received one of those pass around emails that had such an incredibly inspirational quality about fathers, that I thought I would share it here. If only there were more father/son relationships like this. Get your tissue box ready.
*************
A Father's Love. WOW!!!! (read first then see the video)
To think how petty we are to complain about the tiniest things that happen to us on a day to day basis.
This is a true story!
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together.
Now watch the video of their race:
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513 | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 7/3/2008 9:04:30 PM | | Oh my goodness , that was beautiful...very inspiring...thank-you for sharing that | |
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| HAPPY FATHER's DAY!!!
Posted: 7/4/2008 3:39:11 PM | Sharon,
Deb was so very right ... the video you provided the link to was so very beautiful and inspiring. It's exactly the thing I was thinking about when I originally posted this forum topic. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Gary | |
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