Dear Sara;

It’s been almost three and a half years since you passed away, five years since we divorced and seven years since you left me to be a sole parent to Jack and Michaela. I figured that maybe now we should talk again. First let me update you on the kids.

Jack for the most part is doing great. He has friends that love him, a personality that you would cherish and and a stubbornness that you would respect. He is peaceful in his spirit, smart in his thinking but like you he occasionally plays the victim.  If God didn’t tell you he had the 30th highest score on his high school entrance exam, out of 425 kids. He gets that from you Sara. Unfortunately school seems to bore him and thus his GPA is around a 2.something (he gets that from me). He is 5’7 1/2 ” and is committed to joining the US Army Rangers when he gets out of high school. I really want him to attend college but he is adamant that his calling is with the Rangers. I know that it is not what either of us would have chosen for him but I will support him all the way. I am actually very proud of him because how many 16 year olds are there that know exactly what they want to do with their life.  I am so proud of him and you would be as well.

He is like you in so many ways Sara, but he is still so angry with you. I know that he won’t admit it to me but he misses you dearly. He needed a mom in his life to hold him when he felt sad, to comfort him when he was sick and to talk to him like only a mom can do. I worry about him because he has not had that female influence around since you died. I know that he is strong, but it’s one thing for me to know this, and totally another to understand it. Now that he is 16 I worry that I can’t help him anymore. I remind him daily of all the wonderful traits he inherited from you and how much you loved him, but I know that he tunes it out. Don’t worry though, I know deep down in my heart that he loves you with all his heart, and will one day make us both very proud. Continue reading »

 

Have you ever heard the story about the little boy who answered the phone call?

One day, the phone rang, and the little boy answered.
“May I speak to your parents?”
“They’re busy.”
“Oh. Is anybody else there?”
“The police.”
“Can I speak to them?”
“They’re busy.”
“Oh. Is anybody else there?”
“The firemen.”
“Can I speak to them?”
“They’re busy.”

“So let me get this straight — your parents, the police, and the firemen are there, but they’re all busy? What are they doing?”

“Lookin for me.” Continue reading »

 

When I was much younger I seemed to have a bit of a problem avoiding the other cars. I have scratched, dented, totaled and smashed more cars than a demolition derby driver. My dad would always say that if I was in Patton’s Tank Brigade we would have lost the war. It is only through the grace of God that I am still here today. The amazing thing to me is that I wrecked all of those cars while looking forward. OK, maybe once in awhile I wasn’t totally focused on looking forward but I can honestly promise you at no time was I ever driving the car through my  rear view mirror.

It always bothers me when I talk to people that seem to be living life through their rear view mirror. You know the type. The guy who likes to say: “If only” or “Why not me”? They are living their life through their rear view mirror.

You know some of the best lesson’s we will ever learn are from our past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future. Continue reading »

 

Over the past few years I have talked about my experiences with raising children as a single dad. People ask me all the time “how do you do it”, to which I respond “I just do it”. Really when you think about it, we all have some sort of experiences from our childhood that we can draw upon. Some of those memories are positive and some of those memories are negative.

Too often I talk to frustrated parents who say “My parents raised me to be what I am today, why can’t I do the same with my kids”. Or “My kids just don’t understand how good they have it”. Allow me to break the news to you folks, life wasn’t always a bundle of roses for you growing up, and I guarantee you that it wasn’t for your parents either. Kids are kids, God bless them. They are here to challenge us, test us, negotiate with us and generally push every button that they can. If you are going to try and compare how you were raised, with raising kids today, you need to wake up and smell reality.

When I was playing high school football we had three plays. Run left, run right and run up the middle. It was a pretty simple game plan. Now days the parenting game plan, just like football game plans, have become more complicated. Whether you are single parent like me, or part of a two parent household, give yourself some credit. Your kids will be just fine. As long as you listen to them, talk to them, are honest with them, and most of all, let them know each and every day that you love them, things will work out. Continue reading »

 

Well after over a yngle Parentear now I am about ready to launch my new book“Kickin Butt as a Single Parent” “99 Tips that every single parent must have”. It is some what surreal when you actually get a copy of a book that you wrote. I never thought that I would write a book let alone one that is getting such great reviews. I like many of you just do what we do because we love our children and it is the right thing to do. Being a parent can be one of the most difficult things we will ever do, but at the same time the mostrewarding. I am blessed to have been able to take my experiences as well as those of others and share them with the world.

The initial reviews, some of which are below, are coming in fast and furious. I truly believe that this book will not only transform your life but that of your children’s. Yesterday at a meeting with some media types I shared my book. After just glancing at some of the tips and my writing style they asked to buy ten books on the spot. Moments like that just reinforce my commitment to reach out and help all parents not just single parents.

Since I am self publishing this book I need your help. If you are willing to share the book with your email list or willing to allow me to put a banner on your website please let me know. I am willing to send you a free copy of the book just for helping me. Continue reading »

 

Today I want to post a letter that was written back in 2005 by Ms. Polly Sigh. I think that it will remind all of us how blessed we are to live in the greatest country in the world. Have a great holiday everyone.

Dear Reader:

This weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our great nation, I ask that you ponder the meaning of freedom and democracy. And that you thank the brave men and women of yesterday and today who have sacrificed so greatly to ensure the traditions bestowed by our remarkable founders. Continue reading »

 

Facebook is now one of the most powerful social networking platforms on the planet.  So powerful that they registered more searches in March 2010 than Google.

Yes, you read that correctly.

If you want to do business through this incredibly viral, wonderfully targetable, highly searchable social platform…you need to at least learn some of the basics to get started. Continue reading »