Dads

 America celebrated Father's Day last sunday.  Of course this got me thinking about fathers.  Everyone's experience of fathers is different.  I was fortunate to have a great one.  So what makes a great dad?  Unfortunately I have used this quote recently but I think it sums up the most important component of being a great dad.  It is of course from Lao Tzu

                                                         In Family Life

                                                                  Be Completely Present 

I think the most important thing for a dad is to be there and to be present in the moment, whether that is a moment of joy or sadness for their child.  I played a lot of baseball from 5th grade through high school and my dad never missed a game when he was in town even though he wasn't a baseball fan.  I am sure there were plenty of days he was tired and had other more important stuff to do but he was there.  I tried to do the same for my kids.  That was one of the main reasons I stayed in the Air Force, so I would have more time for them rather than more money.   

As your kids get older they develop minds of their own.  Suddenly they don't do everything you say and you have to learn to let go.  This can be challenging for a surgeon who knows everything.  But this is a good thing for I would like to share another quote today, this one from John F Kennedy:

 This is important.  For every great dad imparts to his kids the message of unconditional love by being present through those good times and bad.  This message of unconditional love is what children will carry with them through time and what truly makes a dad great.

Pax

Joe