Happy Father's Day

A perfect song for Father's Day is by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, "Teach Your Children."  So the lyrics go:

"Teach, your children well...
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's
The one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would die
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you."

Dads!  It is your special weekend to be spoiled by your family.   Enjoy it, relish in it for you do so much throughout the year - you deserve this day - Father's Day!  What does your Dad do for you?  Fathers are an important factor in a child's development.  They teach us courage, strength and of course, baby us too.  I've enjoyed always being "Daddy's Little Girl."  Perhaps girls have different relationships with their Dads.  I can't speak from a boy's perspective.  When Dad walks in the room with joking and teasing or to relax with the family around the TV childrens' faces seem to relax with a sense of protection and security from Dad. 

What are you going to do this weekend to celebrate your Dad, Grandfather, Uncles etc?  It's difficult to find that perfect thing to say, "Thank you for all these years together. I think it may be easier when you're little - cute little foot steps to deliver the paper give Dad a big smile.  It still comes down to the same thing it did on Mother's Day - spend time together.  Bask in the love and memories you share.  Tell the funny stories and laugh out loud on the patio for a barbecue.  Play with each other and tickle Dad's funny bone by engaging his inner child in fun activities or let him relax, bask in the glory of his day!

Celebrate the Father's who have gone but still play a large role in our lives.  Do the things they love and smile thinking of doing them together.  It's a day to celebrate all Dads - those with us and beyond.  It's important to show you care.  I think of men as needing tenderness - not known for their love of expressing feelings.  Be sure to commit yourself to knowing your Dad, Grandfather, Uncle etc - talk about history to keep it alive.  Cherish the moments you share with Dad.  These are the days to hold onto!  The quiet wink or the pull of your  pony tail - savor the moments.  Guys, hold onto memories ofplaying catch or building a tree house with Dad.  Whatever the memories, hold them close to your heart.

Lets remember the hugs from Dad.  When Dad gets home, although busy from all the duties of the day - Dad walks through the door and the children light up.  Remember wrapping yourself around Dad's leg and him walking saying, "Where is that Julie?  I know she's around here somewhere."  The room filled with giggles and excitement.  A the while, I'm holding onto his leg while he pretends to not see me.  I remember the "Bear Hugs" which made me feel like I was the most important in your world.

Also exciting is that Dads take a very active role in raising children.  More Dads stay home now and it's fantastic for the whole family.  When a family unit functions like a well oiled wheel, it's magic.  It's to our parents and grand parents we owe gratitude!  Spoil Dad rotten with what he would like to do this weekend.

Thank you Dad for always being here for me and supporting my dreams.  You always knew when words weren't enough and to handle tears you brought ice cream.  Your laugh, wit, strength and humor inspire me always.  May all experience the love from a Father figure to bring a sense of security and stability to your life and fun!

Remember the rest of the song.  When we are grown the cycle is obvious and the rest of the lyrics so poignantly address the process.  So the rest goes:

"Teach your parents well
Their children's hell
Will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's
The one you'll know by.

Don't you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you."

Happy Days of Summer

Ahhh...the sounds, smells and tastes of summer!  What do you love the most about summer?  Summer is my favorite with all the flowers, barbecues with friends, fresh herbs, lemonade, children belly laughing playing hop scotch or expressing themselves with chalk art.  This all makes me smile and sigh a sigh of contentment for the couple months we are blessed with this weather and sunshine!  The memories and positive stories of our life make us who we are today and mold our children into what they will become.

Remember the first Dairy Queen run of the summer?  Sitting outside with friends and family on the metal picnic tables - trying to eat your ice cream before it melts down your arm.  Yum!!  Oh the giggles and good times shared over ice cream.  I suppose that's why it has it's own song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"  When I hear the sound of the ice cream truck playing it's kicky tune it brings back memories of running to get my beloved push-up - parents were always close behind!

Little Julie/Water Baby!

Take a moment to sit back in your chair and remember all the things which lit up your life as a child, like fire flies!  They are still magic no matter how you look at it.  Remember lying on the grass looking up at the fluffy white clouds seeing shapes and pointing them out to your very best friend?  Oh the days!  Did you make whistles out of a single blade of grass? What made you utterly joyful as a child?

I grew up with a swimming pool in the backyard which was fantastic.  All the kids played at our house and we could not be outside alone around the pool even though my brother, sister, and I were swimmers. Safety first.  In my family full on water fights were a regular occurence.  They started outside in the pool with all of us and our Dad.  We would surprise attack Mom in the kitchen with water balloons and other water ammunition.  How could she be upset with all three children giggling and her husband leading the band?  She usually ended up getting thrown in the pool.  The family dog even got involved.  He was a yellow lab mix so it was heaven for him too!

Opening Day at The Doggy Pool

Later I learned that the reason my parents bought that house was for the pool.  It was physical therapy for me.  I swam long before I walked as I have a congenital spinal birth defect.  Swimming kept me strong and active....and blissfully happy!  I didn't even realize it was technically therapy I thought I was a dolphin.  If you couldn't find me, I was swimming.  In water, I didn't feel pain either.  Plus I was competitive and swam at the township level.  It was one thing I could do better than anyone.  I always got first place, in my strokes, free and fly.  Those were the days.  My brother, sister and I would ride our bikes to swim team in the morning and back home to do chores and play then rode back for afternoon swim practice.

Being active is empowering and exhilarating. When I was young we would play line tag and who remembers freeze tag?  We played kick ball - not my strong suit!  All the neighborhood kids would play for hours, having peanut butter and jelly at each others' houses.  Remember to do the things which make you utterly happy - the way you feel when you were little with an ice cream cone in hand licking it as quickly as possible before it melts.  Get out with others and be true to yourself. 

Playing With The Kiddos!

When we are true to ourselves we are more authentic and can truly share ourselves with others.  Honor yourself.  I challenge you to do just one thing you use to do when you were little and see how it feels.  Play with your children.  Get them outside to blow dandelions which have gone to seed and watch how the seeds disperse gently in the air.  Let time stand still for a while by having fun.  It's different for everyone.

I'm still on bed rest for a CSF leak since February so I'm unable to do the things which make me happy but when I get out of bed for some water, I look out the window and get a glimpse of some flowers blooming and sometimes the little ones from the corner are outside giggling as they walk their puppy.  I take utter solace when I see the Eastern Blue Bird on the holly bushes we planted.  They are magical and I believe good luck.  I hold onto these moments for day dreams.  I day dream about swimming, sailing with my husband, sitting out side eating, gardening, riding in the car with the windows down listening to my favorite song .  Have fun.  Do it for me too!

Engage all your senses and enjoy some fun inside or outside.  Oh remember sunscreen too - something we did not do back in my day!  Have a twist cone and sing the song, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"  Remember to share these activities and happiness you gain with others.  Happiness is contagious.  All the moments in our lives is a book of memories, each told in a story of what makes you happy.