- Try everything at least once (my dad encouraged me to at least try everything – every sport, music, etc.).
- Invite your son / daughter to help you. Even though they might not know what you’re doing, they love to learn, and at least feel like they’re helping (I did).
- Enjoy life.
- Love your kids.
- Discipline isn’t a bad thing, it’s necessary.
I’m thankful for my father, and my Father. I’ve learned so much from them both.
What did you learn from your dad?
Never be too busy for your family. (To this day, whenever I call him at work I ask, "Are you busy?" He always says, "Never too busy to talk to you." I think I still ask just to hear him say it. And, when he went back to medical school as a 35-year-old with 3 kids, he NEVER studied on Friday nights…even though he often had tests on Mondays. Friday nights were family time.) I love the immediate access I have to my dad even when it means his patients have to wait a bit.
Not being too busy for your family communicates so much to them! You can always tell what you love the most by what you make time for – and I want to make time for my family!