It was a hot, muggy, summer evening.
I had spent time at a neighbor's house, and I was returning
home. As soon as I opened the door, I could sense something.
My brothers and sister were talking in excited tones, and
everyone had a "wind-blown" look.
"Dad bought a new convertible, and we got a ride!" they
screamed.
I stood there for a moment, the thoughts swirling in my
head. It was a lot to digest.
Suddenly, I ran up to my room and slammed the door. I cried
and wailed, wondering why they hadn't waited for me. Being
the only one who hadn't gotten a ride was enormously
painful. My family felt cruel and heartless.
"Do you want a ride in the new car?" I heard my Dad say.
"No," I yelled.
Even as a five-year-old, I was compelled to feel justified
as a victim.
"Are you sure?" he asked again.
"All right," I said.
My Dad took me out for my own private tour in the new car.
As the wind whistled through my hair, I alternated between
laughing and crying. And when we returned home, I felt again
like a full member of my family.
This was one of the earliest memories of my father, and one
of the fondest. My father considered my needs, and acted on
them. When you've got four siblings, the quest to be
recognized is never-ending. And at that moment, I felt
recognized.
I'm not sure how my father remembers the same incident, or
even if he does remember. But I know it was important to me.
And I know how important it is to keep precious memories of
your children.
Most fathers today take a lot of pictures and videos of
their kids. In fact, the average kid is in more pictures
than the average super-model. However, many of the memorable
experiences with your kids aren't ones that can be captured
by a camera. Videos and pictures can't capture what you're
thinking and feeling when these experiences occur.
Only you can.
Starting a fathering diary does many things. It helps you
remember the amazing things your kids have done and said. It
helps you to reflect on your own feelings, as you ride the
waves of fatherhood. And it provides you with a treasure of
memories, which you can share one day with your children.
Here are some ideas on keeping a written record of
fatherhood:
. You don't need to be a writer! Just get to your computer
twice a week for five minutes, and plunk down your feelings
and memories.
. If you're married, use your spouse to help with memories.
They can fill you in on many of the precious things that
were done and said each day.
. If you're struggling with something to write about, have
an experience with your kids! You can only remember the
meaning in your experiences if you're fully engaged with
them. Leave the thoughts of work at work!
. Review what you've written every six months or so. This is
a great way to see where you've been, and to help you know
where you're going.
Keeping a journal of your fathering experiences may seem
like, "one more thing" in your life. But we all know how
quickly your children grow up. One day you're tying their
shoes, and the next, they're asking for the car.
There's a way to keep the precious memories of your
children's life, and it goes deeper than any picture or
video can. It's simply a matter of expressing what's inside
of you.
And when you go there, you may find a lot more feeling than
you'd ever imagined.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Mark Brandenburg
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