Familyman Weekly – I Botched the Challenge

Well…we’re home. We pulled into our chilly driveway last night and are busy unpacking about 10,000 pounds of accumulated stuff, junk, and trash. I still need to winterize the Beast yet today before it freezes solid, and then I head up to upper Wisconsin tomorrow morning for a couples’ retreat.

There are tiny pleasures of home that you enjoy after being in an RV for a month. Things like…not having to worry about staying warm or cold, stretching out, and of course, my favorite…flushing the toilet and never having to see It again…EVER!!!

Before I move on to the thought at hand, I want to give you a head’s up. I’ll be sending out a Familyman Extra next Monday announcing our 2012 Christmas Product Line Up.And let me just say…we’ve got some great stuff this year. (Hey, would you expect anything less??!!).

OK, here’s my dad challenge to you for the rest of the week…by the way I challenged myself and I FAILED!!!! I couldn’t do it!!! I purposely tried and then faked a hamstring rip and pulled out…so that should take all the pressure off you.

Here it is: wait for one of your children to ask to do something with you (or you can do the asking) and then keep doing it UNTIL THEY want to stop. My example: while we were down south my daughter Maggie asked me to play shuffleboard. I thought, “OK, I’ll play until she gets her fill, and I won’t say anything about stopping.” Twenty minutes later, I announced, “Well we’d better go see what’s for lunch.” Loser!!!

I tried it again with my son Cal (6), but I couldn’t do it. I seem to always cut the time short. Not one to give up easily, I’m going to try again, not because I have something to prove…but because my children have a need of being with their dad that is greater that what I’m willing to give. Yes, I’ll shoot hoops, play cards, or have a pillow fight with them…but I always cut it short thinking we’ve done enough when they really need more.

So, dad, want to take the dad-challenge with me? Do it tonight or this weekend. Ask or wait for them to ask and then keep on doing it…until they want to stop. My plan is to announce a pillow fight (when I get home) and pound the tar out of each other until they want to stop or I’m knocked out. How about you? You up for it? Don’t do it for me…do it for THEM.

You ‘da dad,

Todd