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Do you know what you have in common with your dad? Do you know what the dads in your family have in common with each other? Use this month to ask questions and get answers. Get dad (or his parents) to show you pictures of him growing up. Ask questions about his favorite time of year, color, food, book; childhood memories and family traditions; favorite school activities, subject and hang-out spot growing up; best and worst job; what they’re most proud of; their biggest fear; if they could get a “life do-over” what would they change, etc.

Ask family members to interview their dads and send responses to a designated family member who can put all the information together for sharing with the whole family. And don’t forget to take new pics of dads with their kids (and their dads if possible).

For the month of June we like emphasizing this exercise to encourage building relationships with dads and their children. We’re hopeful that it will draw attention to the opportunity fathers have to be the role models  It’s been said that if a child has a healthy relationship with their father, they’re more likely to have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. For that reason alone it’s important for dads to spend quality time with their child(ren)—taking time to really get to know them.

I am glad you're my father,   

You're really the best,
As a dad, you're a fine one,

I'm so very blessed.
You're smart, and you're strong, 

Just a perfect dad blend,
You're my father, my counselor, 

And a really good friend.

- Joanna Fuchs 

Keep on learning, though your graduation's done,
Your whole life's an education, that has only just begun.

Your diploma is the first big step, knowledge is the key,
To winning what you want in life&being who you want to be.

If you'll always be a student, 

You'll find the secret to success,
And travel on the golden road,

To peace and happiness.

- Joanna Fuchs 

“What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child — it’s the courage to raise one.”   - Barack Obama

“Every father bears a fundamental obligation to do right by their children.”   - Barack Obama

“Above all, children need our unconditional love — whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough.”   - Barack Obama

“One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Howard W. Hunter

“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” –Charles Kettering

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” –Frederick Douglass

“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” - B.B. King

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” - Steve Jobs

“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” - Leonardo da Vinci

“To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too may one day be president of the United States.” 

- George W. Bush

There's a list called 100 Ways to be a Better Father, from which we picked our favorite "10" to share with you below. We challenge all dads to check out the complete list for themselves and select their favorites.

1.  Be present with your children.

2.  Say I love you. A lot.

3.  Heap lavish amounts of praise on your kids.

4.  Focus on the positive when speaking to your children.

5.  Don’t be afraid to show your emotions.

6.  Listen to your kids with all of your attention.

7.  Hold your kids accountable for their actions and words.

8.  Spend some one-on-one time with your child.

9.  Forgive your dad for any grudges you hold against him.

10. Make amends when you’re wrong or grumpy or harsh with your kids.

Get the full list—100 Ways to be a Better Father: https://naturalpapa.com/fatherhood/100-ways-to-be-a-better-father/

Dads are often thought of as one or more of these types: absentee, affectionate, compassionate, cool, geek, handyman, involved, loveable, nurturing, overbearing, playful, proud, provider, responsible, superman/hero, teacher, thoughtful, workaholic, etc. Some people even think of dads in military terms: MIA (missing in action), AWOL (absent without leave), Reserved Duty (slow to interact or reveal emotion), Active Duty (all in, all the time).  As children we want our dads to show up and be present. To help and not hurt. To teach and not impair. To embrace and not wound. To love and not fail.

But what do you do if you’re a male, on the cusp of being a father, with no role model or anyone to help you navigate one of the most important undertakings of your life? After all they say you can’t teach what you don’t know.

You get help. Do some research to find resource(es) that can help you become the best father you can be. Here are two websites to help jumpstart your journey:

https://thedadgang.com/

https://www.allprodad.com/

THE SITUATION:
 

My cousin brought her dog to the reunion last year, saying he's like her child and he was too sad for her to leave at home. It was one of those little terrier dogs that she carried in her purse for about the first 15 minutes they were there, and then she let him out and he became a terror, chasing and barking at the younger children, getting into the food and drinks, licking everything in sight.  I thought it was disgusting, and this year we stated on reunion materials that no pets were allowed.   My cousin now says if her "child" can't come she's not coming.  The family is divided, half didn't mind the dog but the rest did.  We've been having reunions for over 20 years now without pets and we don't want to turn it into an animal reunion.  If she gets to bring her dog again this year, you can bet other family members will follow suit.  How can we resolve this so that everybody’s happy?

CLICK HERE FOR THE FIX

Part of practical family reunion planning is knowing who our family members are. It's Memorial Day weekend. Time to honor those who lost their lives while defending our country. Do you know who from your family are among those we honor? If not, do some research. Ask your oldest living family members. Gather information including which branch of service, rank, length of service, pictures, etc., and share with the rest of the family. If you start researching now, you may find much more to celebrate and honor in November on Veteran’s Day,