Think of this as Father’s WEEK. Extend the spirit of yesterday’s Father’s Day to a man who has helped you grow. Maybe he helped you learn right from wrong or saved you from going in a bad direction in life. Or he helped you through a physical, emotional, or spiritual crisis that became a turning point for you. He could simply have “been there” for you when you didn’t realize that you needed someone to lean on or listened to you when no one else would. He can be your actual dad, another relative, a friend, a teacher, a police officer, a priest, a youth leader—just about anyone. Think awhile about what happened and what the results were of his presence in your life. Sometime this week, go to him and explain what he did and how he made a difference. He probably doesn’t know. This is good for you AND for that person.
Tag Archive for father
My Veteran
I honor, respect, and thank all veterans. But this is the one I love.
Proud Navy man. Loving husband and father. Overall good person.
I miss him but celebrate him today, on Veteran’s Day.
The Mom Project
Women DO get paid the same as men–when they first graduate from college. The wage gap starts to open up as a woman ages toward motherhood. Moms make 29% less than dads do in the U.S.
Is a woman less smart, capable, or able once she becomes a mother? This short video from MomUpAmerica.com answers that question with a bit of stinging humor.
Why MEN Should Have a Baby Every Two Years
Did you hear about the European study showing that pregnancy altars a woman’s mind for at least two years? No, not making her crazy, as you might expect.
“The results showed a clear distinction between the first-time mothers and all the other participants – including the new fathers – with a reduction in the mothers’ grey matter volume in the medial frontal and posterior cortex, in addition to the prefrontal and temporal cortex.
“As the researchers explain, these regions of the brain are all involved with social processes such as feelings of empathy and the ability to understand others – what is sometimes referred to as the ‘theory of mind‘.” (Science Alert article)
The “theory of mind” is a philosophical and psychological term relating to a person’s being able to understand other people’s emotions and mental state, recognizing that each individual is unique in their outlooks, perspectives, and motives. It’s how we recognize others as human beings and learn to get along with them.
Follow my logic here: It’s mostly men who run the world as heads of state and military organizations. If they experienced pregnancy every two years, could world peace be within our grasp?
He Just “Got Some Action”
I’m not sure what I’m more livid about–Brock Turner’s 6-month sentence for 3 felony sex-count convictions or his father’s attitude toward the situation.
Ex-Stanford swimmer Turner viciously attacked a young woman, changing her life forever. (Yes. The violence of rape sticks with you the rest of your life.) Her impact statement in court poignantly and intelligently explains what she went through, how she’s feeling now, and what she expects her future to be like. The judge heard that–and still gave Turner only 6 months in jail plus probation.
His father’s reaction? That a long prison sentence for his son was not appropriate for “20 minutes of action.” To be honest, I don’t know if, as many people feel, he was saying that his son “got a little action,” thus minimizing the violence to the level of a consenting sex-game. I don’t know, either, if Mr. Turner thinks that all sentences should be based on the length of time they took (let’s see, a man takes 10 seconds to aim and shoot the gun that kills another man…). Or if he’s even using his brain at all.
I don’t wonder where Brock got his attitudes from. I do wonder if maybe the dad should serve a long stretch in prison for the 20 years of child-raising that led to this woman’s being raped.
Prison Cell-Phone Business
Don’t believe that the kidnapping of Frank Arthur Janssen, a prosecutor’s father, was orchestrated via cell phone from prison? How is it possible for inmates to get their hands on and use cell phones, anyway? http://people.howstuffworks.com/prison-telecommunication3.htm describes the widespread problem and lack of solutions. It’s an interesting read.
However, the article glosses over the role of prison guards. As a person who has visited and written to state prison inmates for many years, I hear things from the mouths of those who live it. I’ve been told again and again how some guards run a cell-phone business. A guard brings in a phone and charger, sells it to Joe in cell D222. After awhile, there’s a search of Joe’s cell and the phone is confiscated. Then, that phone is sold to Sam in cell 114. And so it goes. What, the prisoner is going to complain to the warden that a guard stole his illegal cell phone? I don’t think so.
Cell phones are a lucrative business for cell phone companies and for unscrupulous prison guards.
Miracle: Just a Reach Away
Miracles do happen. Sometimes they’re big, sometimes they’re little. I just witnessed one that had a huge impact on the life of a man I know.
He went through a bitter divorce 40+ years ago, and the unfortunate happened: his ex-wife preferred that he have no contact with his two children. Some years back, the adult son sent him a note, inviting his dad to contact him and get to know him, his wife, and his child. Miracle #1. But the son didn’t tell his sister, who, along with their mom, had no warm and fuzzy thoughts about the dad. A few days ago, for some reason, that changed. Brother told sister, and together they called their father. It had been 27 years since father and daughter talked, and a new relationship is building. All it took was one person’s reaching out to another, willing to accept what they find.
Soap-opera-ish? Maybe. Then again, you didn’t see the tears in the father’s eyes. And you probably don’t believe in everyday miracles….Too bad.