There are two things my dad did that I know I will never forget and cherish for as long as I live. First, he taught me now to ride a bike. It's a cliche memory, I know. But I still remember my dad taking me down to the deserted elementary school parking lot at the end of our block and helping me ride around on the hot asphalt.
The other thing I remember is him singing the hymn "How Great Thou Art" to me whenever I was upset or having trouble falling asleep. This memory brings a really big smile to my face. My father can't sing for anything, but I think those were the first song lyrics I ever learned.
As I watched my little boys with their daddy today, I wondered what memories my husband was forging with them even now. Things I don't even realize that my boys will cherish when they grow older.
So what about you? Are you watching your children make great memories with their daddy? Or do you have any great memories of your father? Share them in the comment section below. And here's a little video I found on YouTube that seems to encapsulate my sentiments towards Father's Day.
Um, I'm sure this isn't the kind of memory you're expecting,but it's the best...
ReplyDeleteWhen my dad was in Fulton prison when I was maybe 12??, that prison was close enough (3.5 hours away) that Mom decided we could visit him a few times while he was in that one. So, we'd pack up these special stencils she bought specifically for this trip, color all the way up, and we'd get a Kentucky fried chicken meal before going into the visitor area (we hadn't money to eat out normally). Usually if we saw dad in jail it was behind glass and you talked on phones, but this one was a cafeteria-like room with tables and vending machines where the non-violent inmates could come out if they had visitors. We'd eat with him and then a few other men might come over and join us playing cards. That's how I learned how to play spades. Dad actually sat down to eat and play with us--I know that it was because inside prison was "boring" and he couldn't do anything else, but still it was a nice family time that we normally never had. I expected that how I felt on those visits was how a normal family must have acted toward one another on a regular basis--minus the prison setting.
With my hubby though, my kids are going to have great memories. He plays so well with them, and is so involved. Chesley at 5 is learning how to blacksmith, she has her own piece she's working on with him, and they come running when he comes home, chanting his name. They garden together, and he's much more demonstrative than I am, so I'm sure he'll make up the bulk of their happy childhood memories.
Oh goodness, that story really is sad, Melissa. But I'm glad your husband has the chance to correct that with your kids. My five year old would love to learn blacksmithing. He already knows how to start a fire, which daddy taught him, but I'm not sure that's a good thing. :-/
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