I want to thank Top 100 SoberBlogs for making Why I Pray In The Shower it’s June/July Blog of the Month. It makes me feel good to know they liked it enough to make it their pick and mention it on the SoberSites Blog. Although I wasn’t asked by them, I’ve added a badge to my blog that leads to their site.
Since it’s Fathers Day I thought I would write how grateful I am for being a better father now than I was when my children were growing up. I wasn’t a mean dad or anything and always told both my son and daughter that I loved them, but I can’t deny the fact that I wasn’t there for them nearly as much as I should have been or the best role model for them. The bottom line is that I never knew how to be a parent or a role model until several years into my sobriety. It came about by me changing as a person through those years and although it took my son a little longer than my daughter to forgive the old dad and adjust to the new one, the payoff is having a good relationship with both of them today. My son isn’t the emotional type, but I know he has forgiven me and loves the father I have become. And I know my daughter loves the father I have become because she trusts me with the grandchild she gave me over 4 years ago. But if there is one thing that first showed me she had forgiven me and that I had indeed changed for the better, it would be this poem she wrote for me in 2003.
If you taught me just one thing
It is to love with all you have
But you taught me so much more
Through the good times and the bad
You showed me how to feel
Or at least passed this along
Even when I felt pain
You taught me to hold on
You proved that anyone can change
If you look within yourself
Even if you are feeling lonely
There is no need for someone else
You see the good in people
And have no tolerance for hate
I keep this in mind wherever I go
Even if I am always late
Genes have given me your sense of humor
I am goofy just like you
But you have made me realize
I can laugh at myself, too
There is no shame in crying
But self-pity is a waste of time
You and I have learned together
The power of the mind
You encourage me to believe
In more than just this life
Even when things look all gray
I know it will soon be all right
You are aware of your past
And have learned from your mistakes
You have taken your weaknesses
And turned them into strengths
You have shown me how to face your fears
And always tell the truth
Everyday heroes do exist
And you are living proof
The times when you thought you had failed
The times when you didn’t know what to do
These are the moments you had no idea
That I would learn so much from you
Tags: becoming a better parent, changing ourselves for the better, fathers day, forgiveness, gratefulness
I wrote a post a few days ago about teenagers and violence called Teen Violence No Longer Shocking, and although it wasn’t necessarily a negative commentary on today’s youth, it still wasn’t as positive as I would have liked it to be. A lot of people think the majority of our youth don’t care about anything today and that drug use among teenagers is more prevalent than what it really is. Because I don’t want to add to these misconceptions I want to say this. Many of the troubled teenagers I worked with in the past and the majority of teenagers I talk with today are doing well and aren’t getting into trouble or taking drugs, and this is despite any lack of parenting and the way the world has changed over the years. I talked in my book about how much I loved all the teenagers I worked with and explained how negative and extreme changes that began in the mid eighties has made an impact on many people today and not just our teenagers. I know there are some teenagers who make the news today in very unflattering ways and some don’t seem to have the best education, but it certainly doesn’t help when others talk about it as if that’s the norm. Perhaps having been a troubled teenager myself it strikes a nerve when I hear people talk badly about our youth, but it’s more to it than just that. I understand and believe in our youth today and am living proof that anyone can turn out to be a good and decent person no matter what type of teenager they were.
Tags: believing in todays youth, teenagers, teens, working with teenagers, youth in america
If you are a regular to my blog you may have already noticed a few small touches. There is now a Hello and Welcome To My Blog on the right and it’s easier now easier to subscribe and navigate around. I also wrote a better explanation of my book under the My Book tab. If you’re new here, please click the Subscribe in a reader or Subscribe to Why I Pray In The Shower by E-Mail links located at the top left to receive new posts, it’s free. I appreciate all the people who come here and encourage everyone to subscribe. Also please go through the Archives of my posts. I’m sure you’ll find several that you’ll enjoy reading. And of course please order my book, I know you’ll enjoy reading it as well. Thanks.
Tags: creating our path
