Life Lessons From Pa

I can't give just one of my parents credit for the way I've turned out.  They are both equally responsible for me being what I am...whether good or bad. :)  However, since it is Father's Day, it is time to focus on life lessons I have learned from my dad.

1. Playing Dirty Is Sometimes Necessary

Soccer is where this lesson comes into play.  Dad was often busy with a lot of responsibilities at work, but somehow he made time to coach our soccer teams and would come to any games he could with my mom.  There is something really exciting about having people watch you play, and I always appreciated my parents supporting us in whatever it was we were doing.  I was a pretty good soccer player, nothing spectacular, but I really loved to play.  Somehow I learned from my dad without an actual demonstration that a discreet, well-placed shove or trip could help matters when trying to win the ball over.  (Don't pretend you haven't done it too.)  Some people are just sneakier than others, and I was one of the sneaky ones.  I believe I only got a yellow card once, and the poor other girls who tried to retaliate just as the referee was noticing the situation were the ones who had to bear the consequences the rest of the time.  I think they learned a little something too: just be a little more discreet.  I think this skill may have started when I was very young and had an older brother to deal with.  The little sister is not usually the one who gets in trouble for a fight, although she very well may have started it.  Sorry 'bout that, Scott.

2. Do Your Best

Report card time.  Both my parents are very intelligent and did very well in school.  So it is pretty much a requirement that we "do our best" in school too.  ("Doing your best" means you should be getting an "A").  Dad was never unfair or unkind about his expectations (neither was Mom), but when you are accountable for your report card, it does motivate you to do a little better. "Why settle for a B when you can get an A?"  True Dad, very true.  I don't mean to make it sound like nothing less was acceptable, but it was nice to know that Dad had confidence in us that we really were smart and could get the best grade offered.  There is something really satisfying in working hard and having something to show for it.  Dad was always good to help us particularly with our math homework.  I am still amazed to this day that he can remember how to do any of those things, because I can hardly remember!

3. Heavenly Father Made Costco

Dad and I enjoy going to Costco together.  If I am up in Murray visiting for the weekend because Ben is working, the weekend isn't complete without it.  Why we love it so much can't so much be expressed in words...it just has to be felt to be understood.  It is, after all, where I buy my vomit cleanin' gloves in bulk.  Mom likes Costco too, but it's not a deep abiding love that draws you there on a Saturday despite the crowds.  She is good enough to tolerate us, because we are pretty dangerous when we go there together.

I didn't think my kids really noticed or understood this love for Costco until two separate occasions.  One, my 5-year-old asked, "Why do you and Grandpa like to go to Costco so much?"  He doesn't really get it, because he hates all stores and going there with me.  The second occurred when my two-year-old and five-year-old were fighting about whether we should go to the store and Sammi burst out with, "But Heavenly Father MADE Costco!!!"  She gets it.

4. Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Valuable parenting advice.  I think this came out when one of said, "But YOU did!"  I know you're supposed to lead by example and all that, but honestly as a parent I just want my kids to do what I say.  Like in the case of finishing your dinner or else you don't get a cookie, I'll have a cookie regardless.  You can bet that the kids won't have a cookie regardless though...(unless they are a conniving two-year-old and you are at your wit's end.)

5.  There's Nothing Your Dad Can't Do

This phrase of Dad's has been around for all of my life.  We heard it a lot as little kids, and it just reinforced the fact that our dad was our hero.  He would fix a broken toy and we would hear the phrase, "And what do I always tell you kids?" We would instantly reply in chorus, "There's nothing our dad can't do!"  He would rescue a frisbee from a tree, "There's nothing our dad can't do!"  He made a particularly fantastic batch of salsa, "There's nothing our dad can't do!"

6. Dodging Is Necessary

Dad is the king of getting around amusement parks.  Nobody can weave and dodge like Dad to secure a prime spot in line.  I even watched him do it with grandkids in the stroller recently.  You also quickly learn that if you don't walk as fast, you'd better keep his hat in view or you will never meet up again.

7. Feet Are Like Private Parts

Perhaps it is my Dad's profession that subjects him to way more feet than he would like, but it is a strong policy in our family that feet are like private parts.  They should not be shared or flashed about willy-nilly.  We jokingly refer to each other as "toe sluts" if we are wearing sandals or going around barefoot.  The way that they DIFFER from private parts is that they have to be "previewed" before marriage just to be sure that the potential marriage partner doesn't have an extra number of big toes or something.  Overall, there are just way too many people who subject everyone else to their disgusting feet, so it is sound advice indeed that if you HAVE to wear sandals, make sure your feet are properly groomed beforehand.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!  Thanks for the valuable life lessons.  Up for a Costco trip soon?