In Honor of Our Fathers

by Carol Giannantonio

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built." -- Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady

When I read this quote I thought of my Dad and the values he taught growing up as a child and still today!

These were the best lessons in life I could ever learn. My Dad's lessons gave me character and attributed to my success today.

All Father's strive to be the best role model for their children. In today's busy and uncertain world, it is not always an easy job. Many fathers find themselves holding many jobs, being both parents or the single parent and struggle to balance their time between work and family.
Ok Dads, here's a helpful hint to do all of this and more! List your most important tasks of the day and be sure your family is on the list.

Spend a few moments, even an hour each day, of "quality" time with your children. Quality to means all your focus is on them. Kids want to be heard and listened to. Believe it or not they want to be disciplined and taught the difference between right and wrong. This shows them you care.

They may tell you they are tired of hearing the story of your life as a young boy but in reality -- they love every minute of it! This story will play forever in their mind and be proud when they share it with their friends ... since their friends will be not much different. This is where the real learning occurs.

As a teacher, I have my students start off the year by writing an essay with pictures about their role model. Nearly half the class chooses their parents. In every report I find these words "I love my parents for teaching me right from wrong, telling me I am the best and encouraging me to never give up in life since I can have it all if I work at it". You kids are listening and loving it!
The impact you make on your family every day will shape their character. A hug, a pat on the back, a smile a give me five will go along with your child. It will instill the love and emotionally security that will fuel their personal quest for success.

It is your guidance and involvement in their lives, your listening, loving and encouraging them to give it their best and never give up that makes you a super star and very cool DAD.
On Father's Day, I thank my Dad -- now in his late 70's for continuing to teach me and model for me strong values, morals, respect, integrity, honesty, courage, perseverance and the will to never give up. This has made me a success both personally and professionally.

I cherish these lessons in life I learned from my Dad because they work. Today, as an Educator and Life Coach I share these lesson with my students and clients offering them the wisdom and guidance to be all they can be and never give up on life. It's a lesson they love hearing over and over again. It's a lesson they never forget.
Thank you Dad for being a super star in so many ways!