As a kid, I remember the day that report cards came out. No longer were you trusted to bring that piece of paper home in your backpack – they mailed that shit. I’m surprised it wasn’t sent as ‘certified mail’.
The problem for me, was that I was in school while the mail was being delivered, probably their intent – pretty crafty move by the front office.
So I used to play sick that day. I pulled a Bueller.
I didn’t have the resources to invest in the Rube Goldberg-string-tied-around-trophies-rigged-synthesizer-move (mainly because I was highly uncoordinated and didn’t have those luxuries living in the country) but I needed to be there when the 1978 mail jeep pulled up on the mailbox painted with Rural Route #2.
I wasn’t sure how my studies had panned out that quarter and there was nothing worse than hearing about it from my parents before I had any idea of knowing what to expect.
Twenty-five years later, nothing’s changed. Wait… everything has changed.
I’m a grown man now, a father, staying at home with three kids of my own under the age of six. I’m no longer the student, I’m the teacher – at least most of the time.
The difference now is that I don’t have to skip school to intercept that piece of paper that may have shown a C in German or a D in Algebra. The results are right there in front of me, 24/7.
But there are problems with this. Not with my kids, but rather the evaluation process.
Like all ‘work-at-home-parents’ and ‘stay-at-home parents’ I wake up every day trying to do my best – don’t we all?
However, none of us is perfect. Unless we take constructive criticism from our partners, family members, pediatricians or teachers, do we really know what kind of job we’re doing?
When my wife is home, I take a break, pull back and watch my kids from afar.
I take in how she interacts with them, how they communicate and interact.
I observe how they handle different situations – are they kind, are they selfless, do they make good decisions? A big part of this is rooted in what they know, what they see – the morals and values that I try and live by, that I/we try and instill in them on a daily basis.
What I notice most in my observation of my wife, and consequently her of me, is that, as humans we almost always recognize and pick up on the things everyone else is doing wrong. Why?
Why can’t we take a minute and compliment someone on the things they’re doing well? Wouldn’t this give us the emotional boost that we need every now and again? Wouldn’t this make us an army of better parents?
With Father’s Day rapidly approaching, I’m looking back on how I’ve done my job over the past year. I’m looking back on my relationship with my own dad.
Without hearing the thoughts of my wife or those around me, I’d have no idea.
I’ve taken a few minutes to go through my pictures over the last few years and look at everything we’ve done, the moments we’ve shared and the smiles on my kids faces.
Another classic photo session. #Thanksgiving
A photo posted by Adrian Kulp (@dad_or_alive) on
Do me a favor. Take a minute, go through your own pictures, go through the last year in your head and find a ‘dad’ moment to share. Show me that moment, tell me a story about your husband, your brother the father or your dad.
Let’s celebrate our dads, give them the stage and let them know that they’re #doingood. The story that resonates the most, gets a $250 VISA gift card from Dad or Alive and Minute Maid. Happy Father’s Day to every dad, we love you guys. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Favorite moment with my dad was when he let me help build a treehouse with him when i was young. My dad was a perfectionist when it came to projects and the fact that he let me lend a hand was thrilling…. normally he did projects by himself!
My fave moment with my late father was dancing with him at my wedding. We thought he wouldnt even be able to make it
I don’t have a dad but my husband is a wonderful father to our 3 (soon to be 4) kids. He works very hard and spends all his free time with us. He’ll sacrifice himself for our happiness and I’m grateful to him everyday.
we he brought home a kitten 18yrs ago. she just passed away but she was my baby
The best time I had with my Dad is now. He was so busy supporting me and my sisters when I was growing up, but he is 84 now, and for the last 6 years we have been doing tons of stuff together. We go fishing, to the library, the coffee shop and we went camping together with him and my family! It was a blast!
I enjoy helping my dad with his garden, and now my kids will help as well. They love it!
My favorite moment with my dad is going on family vacations. We would be the only 2 up while we drove thru the night every year!
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My favorite moments were our vacations when I was a kid. He took us to the coolest places – Hudson Bay in Canada, Seattle, Walden’s Pond. I am so lucky to have a dad who had such cool interests and took us so many great places.
My grandfather was the best dad any kid could have. He was hyper active and would take us fishing,camping and he would even sneak us into stables so we could hang out with horses. He was hilarious,a super cheap skate and he would do anything to make us happy. I miss him every day….because no one could ever take his place. My child hood really rocked.
My favorite moment with dad is when I was a kid, and he took me to my first Michigan Football game, he taught me all about the game, we got to bond, and till this day we still enjoy going to the games together. He is the reason I know all about sports, if he never took me to a game(s) I wouldn’t have gotten to know anything about sports and I also would’ve not gotten the chance to see a different side to my dad. So glad we can still share these moments together, lucky to have him!
My son asked my husband a few weeks before his birthday to go fishing just the two of them. For his birthday we got him fishing gear and he knew exactly what that meant. He was so excited! So happy to spend some time alone with daddy
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Growing up in the 60’s there was no sunscreen (or we couldn’t afford it if it existed) so being a fair skinned redhead, I couldn’t be in the sun. My dad would work all day and even though he was tired, would take me to the city pool in the evenings so I could swim too.
I do not have any father figures in my life but my son in law is a great father to his sons. My oldest grandson loves helping when is dad is out working in the garage and has his own little tool belt to like his daddy.
I remember going on a boat ride and it started to storm. We had a blast but we were in big trouble with my mom later. Miss you dad!
I remember my dad surprising us with our 1st vacation. It was glamorous but it was fun
I loved the day my dad introduced me to music..and the Beatles.
My favorite moment is when he took me to my first concert – shaunie
My favorite moment is camping with my dad
when i first met him i was 24 i think or 25 and he had had a horrible wreck and was in a coma and lost his memory he remember some things and some were not correct and was looking for me and i was looking for him but it was when i got to hold his hand for the first time something so simple made my day
when he took me fishing when i was 6 and i caught my first fish!
My favorite moment was when my dad took me skating for the first time.
my favorite moment was the last thanksgiving before he passed away in 2014 when my parents decided they would have it together with us kids after 22 years of being divorced and never getting along. it was such an awesome moment!