You haven't seen more scandalous drama at a chicken coop since Gus was peddling the blue stuff at Los Pollos Hermanos (only breaking bad fans will get that reference). So Chick-fil-A picked a fight! But with who? Only logical foe is free speech, right? The past 72 hours have been exhausting (keep in mind, I am NOT super-political. I usually stay out of political rantings). But for the past 3 days I've been more annoyed at the radicals who hate, disappointed by the leaders of the church who remained silent (cause they normally love talking), and just plain tired of hearing from the "RELEVANT" christian voice. Because what do they really stand for anyway? I have read thoughts and articles that have made me want to puke (probably because what I was reading was regurgitated trash anyway. 1 article by Matthew Paul Turner said "5 ways the church failed"  in the ChIck-Fil-A. (YAWN) I'm sure he's a nice enough guy with a great heart, but this whole "Jesus is love and would be fine with us the way we are" is really played out.
      What I know is this. It's America, we are allowed our freedom. Speech is granted to ALL, and Christians are included. We are Christians, and indeed we are called to love. Love all, no matter who they are (judge not). 
I also know this. I drove my 3 kids to a Chick-fil-A in Jersey yesterday to teach them these things and more.

I wanted to teach my kids a lesson. When we ended up (in Jersey) I began to tell them what a great country we have. That people can freely speaktheir minds, live their lives, and have their faith. I taught them that the standard for their lives should always be the Bible first, and they should never apologize for that. EVER. 
I taught them that Jesus told us to love, and not just love those who agree with us, or believe what we believe. But true love...no strings attached. I told them that all people should be treated with dignity and respect. I taught them they should stand strong behind truth when asked and never water it down due to criticism, pressure, or persecution.

I taught them all this over a chicken sandwich....or 2...
 
 "Love is patient, Love is kind....but if not taught and demonstrated by parents can breed generations of misery for a family".      
            A while back John Mayer penned the above lyrics in a  song entitled  "Daughters". Great song, strong message, very relevant for today. Today marks a huge day for me. I'm taking my 2 girls to "Princess and her Pappa" ball in Seaford NY. It's a semi-formal event that encourages dads to know how truly important their place is, in the lives of their little girls (and it's not at a church....hmmm. Gotta get on that one). I marked this day a few years ago when I would start this tradition (the past several years I've done the flowers and candy thing, but couldn't wait for this "date" to happen when I knew they will remember it). So today a traditions starts. Until they find Valentines of their own, Daddy is their valentine (or mommy. See bottom of this post). 
Tonight I'm focusing on my 2 princess'. I want to demonstrate the fol to them ALWAYS, but hopefully on this special occasion show them these key points:

-How a gentlemen should treat a lady.
-How a "Godly" man acts.
-How a nobody will love them like their daddy, but try to find a guy as close as possible ( - =
(If daddy's the bar, the bar WILL BE SET HIGH)
-What real love is, and what it's not.

It will be a night of dinner and dancing and games and fun. But more importantly, it puts the Oness on me as daddy, to make sure that these next few years (and they will go fast) I form the bar that they will set for looking for a Godly man. 
Pressures on, but I'm looking forward to it. 
Helpful hints to dads of younger ones:

-Night before you wine and dine your honey, YOU are you little girls valentine. Treat them like you want someone to treat them when they leave. 
-This is a night of memories. Pull out all the stops ( you don't have to spend a million dollars to do this. Just make sure its MEMORABLE). Taking them to IHOP DOESN'T COUNT
-Get creative. Try to find something that you can do on a yearly basis (some hints below)
A. It HAS to be formal
B. Artistic. Maybe formals not your thing. So artsy. You and your girls can CREATE something every year. Or one BIG project you add to every year. Like an ongoing collage. 
C. Theme it out every year. This year is ______________________. Do as much as you can along the same theme. Let the girls suggest a ton on this.

DAD WITH BOYS...
(If you have sons, OR if you have sons AND daughters).

If you don't have daughters your NOT off the hook. 
Part 2 starts as such.

At the appropriate time teach the BOYS that they must treat mommy like a princess. This will groom them to be gentlemen when they find their true love. (Helpful hints below)
A. Give your sons money to take mommy out. Go throigh a pre-game ritual open the door, pay the bill, all the gentlemen things you do (and yes please mak sure you are practicing what you preach).
B. Homemade cards always melt moms heart
C. Make sure you go through what I will call the "Gentlemen's list" with my son when he's of age
-how to speak towards a lady
-how to act around a lady
-how to protect a lady (walking on street side of sidewalk, etc)
-how to listen to a lady
-what to look for in a Godly lady

Remember, as dads we have a responsibility to teach AND demonstrate Real Love....
Don't wait till someone else tries to teach them

jIMMy
 
I love when I can spend a whole day with my family. I also love that special one on one time with my kids. Today was that day. Me and Josiah (my 2 yr old son) we shopping all day for mommy. I mean ALL DAY. One thing that never get's in the way of a "all day-er" with a child o' mine is, well anything. I have to remind myself constantly to put away the phone, it's Daddy time.  So we stopped at a very "manly" restaurant (o.k. B.K. is tough guy food). I saw something really disturbing. First, my son already flirts. He got the eye of this cute little 2 year old who couldn't keep her eyes of my boy (already like his daddy). Problem was, her daddy was eyeing his phone too long to notice. Here's what I mean. (cropped out faces as best as possible. This wasn't about THIS dad, This is about US dads.).
                                          (dad on phone)
Picture
I get it. Sometimes things pop up. Sometimes they are even urgent. Here's my issue. 45 minutes later...check this out.
                       (dad still on the phone, hasn't barely looked up)
Picture
I'm sure this guy's a fine enough daddy. He seemed very caring as they were leaving.  He was very caring, and I'd bet the bank this isn't a "norm" for him. Personally I'm thankful to him, seeing this opened my eyes. Josiah and his little girl were chatting to each other as they were leaving, we were able to share a smile and I simply said "Goes fast. Gotta enjoy every minute while we can". He nodded, smiled, scoped up his beautiful little bundle and was gone. I had to see this, cause I hated to see this. I had to capture this, because I hated to see this. Dad's, make every moment a priority. The work will be there when your done, but the moment(s) will have passed. Here's some helpful tips to make sure you "capture" every moment.

* Discipline yourself with social media. (when it's daddy time, don't let anything get in the way).

* Always keep in mind, you only get these moments once.

* Give your kid permission to call you out 
(the other day Bella was asking me to watch Karate Kid. I was in the middle of texting someone. As I tried to "multi-task" my Bella came over, gently took the phone out of my hand, and gently said "Enough with the phone Daddy".  All I said was "Thank you". Let your kids have the freedom to tell you when they want your attention.

* Remember. Nothing is more important to you then THAT moment right there. Audibly say that to your child. Even when they are young. Start it early so they know how much that time means to YOU.


Dad's. We only get one shot. Let's do better then "the best we can".


Jimmy