Family Guy – 06 May, 2008
Gidday, I’m Tim Sisarich, and I need to start this by making it clear that when God was handing out gifts and talents, the ability of connecting head of hammer to head of nail was missed on me … I am just not that handy around the home.
A fact not missed on my four year olds when I decided to build … ok, attempt to build them a tree house. Maybe tree house is a bit strong of a word, I mean it’s really just 3 planks of wood nailed to a tree, with 2 bits of a broken surfboard, as a makeshift wall. But anyway, I’m banging and whacking away, they’re getting more and more excited as their little imaginations see their dad building a grand treetop palace. For some reason, beyond my construction knowledge, too many nails does not necessarily make something more safe, or more secure … so anyway, as all my efforts were turning to splinters, one of my boys says, you’re not that good at building are you? Not like Popa Al, I mean.” I was guttered, “No son, not really” “Don’t worry dad,” he smiled, “You’re the best at fixing stuff … here’s your gafa tape.” Right then and there, it dawned on me how much our kids watch us, and how they need and value us. My boy was saying to me in the language of a 4 year old, “Dad, you make me feel safe, and I know that no matter what happens in my little life, you’ll be there to fix it.” Doctor Dobson says in his book, Bringing Up Boys that, “Boys are in trouble today primarily because their parents, especially their dads, are distracted, overworked, harassed, exhausted, disinterested, chemically dependant, divorced, or simply unable to cope. Chief among our concerns is the absence of the masculine role modeling and mentoring that dads should be providing.” He goes on to say that the influence of a good father can hardly be overemphasized. That Sunday afternoon, as I stood there looking at the damage I had done to that poor tree, blood dripping from my hammer-hit thumbs, I had to be one of the proudest dad in the world. You can get a copy of this, as well as help and resources for your family from our Online Resource Centre – Family.org.nz. I’ll catch you next week, with more from the Family Guy.
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