This is a clip from tv show "Fresh Prince of Bell Air" with Will Smith, in this clip Will Smith gets reunited with his estranged father (Lou) after 14 years of absense, who tells him that he is coming to spend the summer with him. But Lou disappoints Will again by telling him that there trip will have to be postponed.

Even thou this is acting (great acting), I was inspired to post this clip.
Real live can be a lot harder.

Sometimes I think my 11 month old son Joey has a genetic make-up closer to that of a tank than his sister. Sure, they look similar as brothers and sisters tend to do and after an initial period of Miss 2 pounding the crap out of her newborn brother at every opportunity, they get on great. (If being friends with a piece of precision military equipment were possible.)

Fred started swimming lessons last week so everyday from 5:30-6 we can be found lounging out by the city’s public pool. When we first started kicking over the idea of Fred learning to swim a couple of things immediately came to mind. 1) We are talking about my son so do we really want him to learn how to swim when walking down the hall without tripping over his own feet is still a problem? I mean I’m 32 and I still fall all the time. 2) Our idea of swimming lessons involves people in red one-piece bathing suits ala Baywatch with whistles around their necks which they use to keep in the kids in order.

I need to start this by making it clear that when God was handing out gifts and talents, the ability of connecting head of hammer to head of nail was missed on me … I am just not that handy around the home.

A fact not missed on my four year olds when I decided to build … ok, attempt to build them a tree house.

Maybe tree house is a bit strong of a word, I mean it’s really just 3 planks of wood nailed to a tree, with 2 bits of a broken surfboard, as a makeshift wall.

But anyway, I’m banging and whacking away, they’re getting more and more excited as their little imaginations see their dad building a grand treetop palace.

For some reason, beyond my construction knowledge, too many nails does not necessarily make something more safe, or more secure … so anyway, as all my efforts were turning to splinters, one of my boys says, you’re not that good at building are you? Not like Popa Al, I mean.”

“One time my kids wanted to surprise me with a good breakfast in bed on Father's Day. They put a cot in the kitchen.”

While fatherhood is a serious business, you cannot deny the fun and craziness involved in it for both the dad and the kids. A father holds a magnificent place on this planet.

A father ocean catfish is a true example of a devoted father. He carries the eggs of his young is his mouth until they are ready to be born, which may take up to several weeks. During that time, he cannot eat a thing!

Penguins are another good example; Father penguins keep on their feet in arctic temperatures for sixty days or more to protect his eggs. He hides them on top of his feet, hiding them with feathered flap. Like the catfish, he cannot eat for the duration of his guard of the eggs.

It was one of the highest slides he’d ever seen complete with metal steps and a little dip in the middle. I did the typical help him up the steps thing except this time instead of waiting for me to sit down behind him, he just took off. ZIIIPPPPP down he went so fast all I could do was watch from above and pray. The slide was a foot of the ground. Just high enough for his momentum to swing his feet under and send him face first into the gravel. As I shot down to scoop him up and wipe away the tears I was met with a scream joy and the request to have another turn.

I’ve thought about this over and over. As parents we have taken on the task of teaching our children how to make it through this world safely. “We do not touch the stove!! It’s hot! No sir! Outlets are not toys! We hold hands in the parking lot.”

Greetings! A father named Terry writes:

“My definition of time is that it’s the most valuable thing in the world I can give my son. Though I’ve believed this since he was born, I have a different perspective now. My father is dying of pancreatic cancer and during my visits with him, I’ve been flooded with memories from when I was a young child. One memory that stands out for some reason is that when I was probably three years old, I watched him use a post hole digger at the end of our driveway to put a mailbox in. He was big, strong, and invincible. He seemed like Superman to me. While visiting him at the hospital recently, I told my dad about that memory and he couldn’t remember it at all.

Strongest Dad in the World [From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

This is a great example of what a fathers'love can do.

truly inspirational

Warm Regards

- Eric

There was a song on the radio the other day that just cracked me right between the eyes!

I’m sure you know it, Cat’s in the Cradle … goes like this …

My child arrived just the other day … He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay … He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew …
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad … You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon … Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son … (You know we'll have a good time then)

My son turned ten just the other day … He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
(Can you teach me to throw)", I said "Not today …I got a lot to do",
(he said, "That's ok" )

And he walked away but his smile never dimmed …

My son came running around the corner of the house. It was just as I had hoped. I gave a wild, primitive yell as I sprang out at him. He hit the ground quickly, trying to avoid my grasp. I reached down and tagged him easily, and the burden of being “it” was transferred once again.

As I searched for a new hiding place in front of the house, my wife called from the front door. “Mark, it’s eight o’clock, the kids have to come in!” I was a bit dumbfounded.

We’d been playing tag for two hours.

In those two hours, I’d been unaware of time. There were no worries about projects at work, what time the kids needed to go to bed, or whether we had enough money to last the month. My focus had been on playing tag, and nothing else. And when your focus is complete, you’ve entered a state that has no limitations. Your joy and passion can come alive, and your children’s can, too.

Being in a complete state of play is one of the gifts our children give us.