I am not only going to post my own stories here, but also those submitted by anyone else. Everyone should share in our stories to remember similar ones they have about their own Dads. Submit often please by either emailing me or leaving a comment with your story. Both can be found on the contact page. Thanks.
Tears and actions make a man, not being macho.
I was recently talking to some friends of mine and remembered a discussion I had with my dad when I was about 11. My Great-Grandmother passed away, and my Dad was very upset. She had helped raise him so it was like losing a second mother. I remember watching some tv show in which a character had said that men weren't supposed to cry. I repeated my newly found wisdom to my dad while he was crying. He looked at me and asked where I had heard that. I told him on tv, and told him I didn't understand why. He looked me in the eye and said, "Only strong men cry. Those that don't, are scared to, and that makes them weak. Showing that you care for people makes you a real man. Feelings, tears, and love make you a great man that people will love and remember. Not how many beers you can drink, how loud you burp, or how you can be tough and not cry when you are hurting." Thank you Daddy for showing how to be a man.
Advice courtesy of Kenneth M. Lynch Sr.
My Grandfather was known for some rather unique life advice. He looked at things from a somewhat humorous/bitter standpoint. He had a hard life, like most of our grandparents, and his view of life was very pragmatic to say the least. Today I leave you with advice that makes you appreciate things:
"If you wake up on this side of the dirt; it's a good day" -Kenneth M. Lynch Sr.
"If you wake up on this side of the dirt; it's a good day" -Kenneth M. Lynch Sr.
So you’re eight months old daughter, what’s next ?
I think about the future.
As I wrestle you into your vest,
Will we be battling some more?
Will I be allowed a short rest?
Will your octopus like wriggles,
That throw off the bedclothes.
Turn into octopus twists of logic,
Bringing us to mental blows.
How can I say no to a tattoo,
When I have two of my own.
Will it break my heart as well,
If that boy never phones ?
Can I be the cool father ?
The one kids all thinks great.
The one who buys you beer,
And lets you stay up late.
I think about the future,
As I wrestle you into your vest.
As long as I spend it with you,
I don't care if I never rest.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
As I wrestle you into your vest,
Will we be battling some more?
Will I be allowed a short rest?
Will your octopus like wriggles,
That throw off the bedclothes.
Turn into octopus twists of logic,
Bringing us to mental blows.
How can I say no to a tattoo,
When I have two of my own.
Will it break my heart as well,
If that boy never phones ?
Can I be the cool father ?
The one kids all thinks great.
The one who buys you beer,
And lets you stay up late.
I think about the future,
As I wrestle you into your vest.
As long as I spend it with you,
I don't care if I never rest.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
The five best things my dad did for me ?
The five best things my dad did for me that I hope to do with my kid follow....
1. Let me blowtorch the doors when he was doing D.I.Y. for an eight year old to be allowed to use an implement that sprayed fire was a great experience.
2. Encouraged me in my love of computers by buying me one for Christmas in 1985 and then pretending not to be disappointed when all I did was play games on it.
3. Took me to the cinema to watch such great films such as Star Wars, Clash of the Titans, Mad Max 3 and Arabian Adventure to name a few. I look forward to having a good excuse to watch these types of film and not having to spend hours persuading the wife that she will enjoy Iron Man etc.
4. When I was in hospital bought me comics to read.
5. Encouraged me to write, draw and use my imagination.
cheers Pop !
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
1. Let me blowtorch the doors when he was doing D.I.Y. for an eight year old to be allowed to use an implement that sprayed fire was a great experience.
2. Encouraged me in my love of computers by buying me one for Christmas in 1985 and then pretending not to be disappointed when all I did was play games on it.
3. Took me to the cinema to watch such great films such as Star Wars, Clash of the Titans, Mad Max 3 and Arabian Adventure to name a few. I look forward to having a good excuse to watch these types of film and not having to spend hours persuading the wife that she will enjoy Iron Man etc.
4. When I was in hospital bought me comics to read.
5. Encouraged me to write, draw and use my imagination.
cheers Pop !
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Mum thoughts
A list of things I know moms did that I promise never to inflict on my daughter.
1. Spit on my hankie and clean her face in front of people.
2. Tell her when the ice cream van plays its tune, it means it's out of ice cream.
3. Tell her she is allergic to dogs and cats , so she doesn't ask for one as a pet.
4. Say when she is in trouble , " Are you asking for a smack ? "
5. Tell her policemen arrest children who don't eat their vegetables.
6. Tell her Bob the builder is dead so he won't be making anymore programs.
7. Tell her the cat has " gone to live with a nice family in the country." When really it's gone on a one way trip to the vets.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
1. Spit on my hankie and clean her face in front of people.
2. Tell her when the ice cream van plays its tune, it means it's out of ice cream.
3. Tell her she is allergic to dogs and cats , so she doesn't ask for one as a pet.
4. Say when she is in trouble , " Are you asking for a smack ? "
5. Tell her policemen arrest children who don't eat their vegetables.
6. Tell her Bob the builder is dead so he won't be making anymore programs.
7. Tell her the cat has " gone to live with a nice family in the country." When really it's gone on a one way trip to the vets.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Breast pump for sale. A Dad’s breastfeeding story.
All is quiet in my house, my wife Ruth sleeps, Rose my four week old daughter is also deep in slumber and I finally have time to type this story up.
Rose is nice and quiet as she has bought up a load of wind after taking nearly three ounces from her bottle, that's right her bottle, full of SMA tinned milk. So you are now thinking where does this story fit into this project about breastfeeding? Well to understand we need to go back to when Ruth was pregnant.
During pregnancy we discussed a lot of things, names, where the nursery will be, how we can trim our budget and a hundred and one other issues that crop up before you bring a baby into the world. One of these was breast feeding and we were both adamant it was nothing but the breast for our child as soon as they entered the world. I felt smug when we talked to midwives and Doctors, " Yes of course we will be breast feeding. " I would say , feeling shocked that anyone would suggest anything but for my offspring.
We read books, talked to parents and felt as fully prepared as you ever can be for the arrival of our baby. We bought breast pumps and pads, maternity bras and breast milk freezing bags . We were ready, or so we thought.
Two weeks before the due date Ruth was in and out of hospital with high blood pressure. With a week to go I get a phone call whilst out shopping from her, " they are going to induce, come as soon as you can. "
The induction fails and in fact two more attempts to coax our child out into the big wide world also meet with no success. Waters are broken, contractions start but each time the baby's heartbeat becomes erratic so it all has to stop. We hang in and talk about skin to skin contact when our child comes and that first important breast feed as soon as they are born.
To cut a long story short our daughter is born at four in the morning by c-section. It's not a pleasant process to sit in on ( Luckily I could see nothing ! ) and I feel for Ruth who only has a local so can feel everything except the pain. Our daughter is popped out and later in the recovery area she breast feeds and we go up to the ward.
Now the problems start, Rose is early, she has jaundice and Ruth is in a lot of pain. The midwives work very hard and are extremely helpful but Rose feeds very slightly and then sleeps for an hour before waking up again screaming. later I am to find out this is due to her jaundice. But Ruth's nerves are starting to fray so the midwives take Rose away and bottle feed her. I am outraged , how will she " latch on " now, but Ruth keeps on trying and Rose does her best as well, but breast milk doesn't seem to be filling her up.
Come the day of discharge our triumphant return home is delayed by the Doctors wandering if Ruth needs a blood transfusion and a consultant telling us Rose has a heart murmur. The murmur is found to be not present but our nerves are a little frayed as we come home. Rose still has jaundice but feeds a bit .
That first night home is a nightmare, Rose will not settle or feed and has us awake every hour. As we have hardly slept since the birth things are getting worse and tempers are getting lost. Eventually after ten hours I ring my mom.
" Put her on the bottle , " she says, " Just till Ruth relaxes. "
So bottles and milk are bought, the family descends to help and Rose feeds and sleeps for a good four hours.
We discuss it and Ruth agrees she will try breastfeeding tomorrow when she is less tired and Rose is less stressed. That becomes another tomorrow and another until we decide for our sanity and Ruth's poor health that Rose is better left a bottle fed baby.
The moral of this tail is I suppose,
" It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all."
Now as I prepare to put the breast pump on Ebay I have no regrets and neither does Ruth, she asked me to type this story up so if any one is losing heart about breast feeding and switched to the bottle at least they know they aren't the only ones who have ever been there.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Rose is nice and quiet as she has bought up a load of wind after taking nearly three ounces from her bottle, that's right her bottle, full of SMA tinned milk. So you are now thinking where does this story fit into this project about breastfeeding? Well to understand we need to go back to when Ruth was pregnant.
During pregnancy we discussed a lot of things, names, where the nursery will be, how we can trim our budget and a hundred and one other issues that crop up before you bring a baby into the world. One of these was breast feeding and we were both adamant it was nothing but the breast for our child as soon as they entered the world. I felt smug when we talked to midwives and Doctors, " Yes of course we will be breast feeding. " I would say , feeling shocked that anyone would suggest anything but for my offspring.
We read books, talked to parents and felt as fully prepared as you ever can be for the arrival of our baby. We bought breast pumps and pads, maternity bras and breast milk freezing bags . We were ready, or so we thought.
Two weeks before the due date Ruth was in and out of hospital with high blood pressure. With a week to go I get a phone call whilst out shopping from her, " they are going to induce, come as soon as you can. "
The induction fails and in fact two more attempts to coax our child out into the big wide world also meet with no success. Waters are broken, contractions start but each time the baby's heartbeat becomes erratic so it all has to stop. We hang in and talk about skin to skin contact when our child comes and that first important breast feed as soon as they are born.
To cut a long story short our daughter is born at four in the morning by c-section. It's not a pleasant process to sit in on ( Luckily I could see nothing ! ) and I feel for Ruth who only has a local so can feel everything except the pain. Our daughter is popped out and later in the recovery area she breast feeds and we go up to the ward.
Now the problems start, Rose is early, she has jaundice and Ruth is in a lot of pain. The midwives work very hard and are extremely helpful but Rose feeds very slightly and then sleeps for an hour before waking up again screaming. later I am to find out this is due to her jaundice. But Ruth's nerves are starting to fray so the midwives take Rose away and bottle feed her. I am outraged , how will she " latch on " now, but Ruth keeps on trying and Rose does her best as well, but breast milk doesn't seem to be filling her up.
Come the day of discharge our triumphant return home is delayed by the Doctors wandering if Ruth needs a blood transfusion and a consultant telling us Rose has a heart murmur. The murmur is found to be not present but our nerves are a little frayed as we come home. Rose still has jaundice but feeds a bit .
That first night home is a nightmare, Rose will not settle or feed and has us awake every hour. As we have hardly slept since the birth things are getting worse and tempers are getting lost. Eventually after ten hours I ring my mom.
" Put her on the bottle , " she says, " Just till Ruth relaxes. "
So bottles and milk are bought, the family descends to help and Rose feeds and sleeps for a good four hours.
We discuss it and Ruth agrees she will try breastfeeding tomorrow when she is less tired and Rose is less stressed. That becomes another tomorrow and another until we decide for our sanity and Ruth's poor health that Rose is better left a bottle fed baby.
The moral of this tail is I suppose,
" It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all."
Now as I prepare to put the breast pump on Ebay I have no regrets and neither does Ruth, she asked me to type this story up so if any one is losing heart about breast feeding and switched to the bottle at least they know they aren't the only ones who have ever been there.
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Is it ready yet ?
My wife is six months pregnant, this is difficult to explain to our four year old niece but we have a go.
"Auntie is having a baby".
"When?"
"Soon."
"Now?"
"No later." Niece leaves the room to harass daddy and comes back ten minutes later. her first words are,
"Is the baby here now?"
Kids are so impatient bless them
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
"Auntie is having a baby".
"When?"
"Soon."
"Now?"
"No later." Niece leaves the room to harass daddy and comes back ten minutes later. her first words are,
"Is the baby here now?"
Kids are so impatient bless them
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Wise words from my neice ?
Uncle
Yes
Do you like Dr Who
Yes
Have you watched every episode ever made
Yes
Didn't you have anything else to do
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
Yes
Do you like Dr Who
Yes
Have you watched every episode ever made
Yes
Didn't you have anything else to do
-Skaggy the Poet skaggythepoet.wordpress.com
My Dad the Doctor
I grew up with a Dad who was very passionate about baseball. He once told me a story how he and my uncle were fishing before their little league baseball game. My uncle offered to hold the extra hooks in his pocket and they fished. Of course they were there a little too long and got to their game right before it started. My Dad said he would never forget watching my uncle slide into second base, scream, and stand up with a patch of red spreading across his butt. He had forgotten to take the hooks out of his pocket and they dug into his butt and leg. My Dad was told to run home and get my Grandmother. He did, but got my Aunt instead. When they got home my Dad and uncle went into the shed and prepared for “surgery”. My Dad removed the hooks using needle nose pliers, and patched him up. You may ask why they didn’t tell my Grandmother? Because they figured my uncle would get in trouble for doing something so “stupid”; so the fixed it themselves.
-Adan M. Maskery
-Adan M. Maskery