"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).
-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 ( - =
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.
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).
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 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
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