Lori shared it. I can’t let it go. A cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”
And a Youtube comment from J. Scott Hamilton that followed: “your voice tells us you’re a great singer. Your daughter’s smile tells us you’re a better dad.”
to live as men for others
June 16, 2019 by 15 Comments
Many mentors have influenced me with their muscular Christianity, but Father Byrne’s method of shaping souls was different. He drew upon St. Francis of Assisi’s maxim: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” The diminutive priest was a giant in my life but made himself small so students like me would aspire, as he did, to live as men for others.
This is the phrase—men for others—that runs through my mind this Father’s Day. It’s how men like my dad and Father Byrne lived, and I’m convinced it’s critical to being a good father; indeed, a good person. Find something meaningful that is bigger than yourself and live for it, simple as that. For seeking the good of another is more than living, it is loving.
To my many fathers and to all like them, thank you and Happy Father’s Day
~ Mike Kerrigan, from To All the Fathers in My Life, Thank You (wsj.com, June 14, 2019)
Photo Credit
Dear Pudding
February 15, 2014 by 30 Comments
Dear Pudding:
As I told your Mom in our wedding vows,
I promise to love you fiercely too.
One day, when you’re a Mother, you’ll know the kind of love that I am talking about.
A love that makes my eyes well up with tears of joy when you simply hug me.
A love that moves me to rise from bed and check on you at three in the morning mostly because I just miss you when you sleep.
A love that makes it hard for me to let go of your hand when you try to balance on something because I know you need to learn from your mistakes.
I promise to look you in the eyes when you come to me with a problem.
I’ll always want to fix it for you right then and there.
I promise to listen as to whether you’ll want a hand or just an ear.
I promise to drop you off at college and when I do, I promise to do my best to contain my excitement for you so that I won’t embarrass you in front of your new friends.
I promise to have a reputation amongst your friends as a Dad that intimidates your boyfriends.
I promise to raise you to be strong and independent.
I promise to cry when I let go of your hand when I let go of your hand at the alter…
…I want you to know that every time when you open the door when I come home from work you’ll see a smile on my face
My arms already open ready to catch you
I’ll always be ready to catch you…
For you, Rachel…
Texting Glossary for Dads
November 23, 2013 by 20 Comments
And
“WHATEVER”: They are looking for exit strategy and struggling to find one. Your point of view is completely dissed.
Source: Adapted from Themetapicture.com
Sunday Morning: Dear Son
November 10, 2013 by 60 Comments
20 October 1944
US Army Air Force Base
ItalyDear Son:
I hoped I would never write this to you. In a little less than an hour, I’ll be strapping myself into my old plane and pointing my nose westward. I’ve seen the orders. I think it will be for the last time. And, so, suddenly I find my life stripped away, like the branches of an old, black tree. All that matters is that I write this to you.
I know that you won’t remember me. Not really. When I spent three days with you last year when you were 6 months old, and although you can’t yet understand it, I loved you more then than you might imagine loving anybody right now.
Now listen to me. This Life, know that it is precious. You’ve got to grasp it, every little whiff of it that passes by you. It won’t be easy. It won’t be certain. Not now. Not in your unimaginable future. Don’t be surprised. No, embrace the stiff winds and the lonely heights. Remember your name. Never turn away from the right course because it’s hard. Above all, love. Scrape out the bottom of your soul. And love for all you’re worth. And when you find her, risk everything. Die a thousand deaths to get her. Don’t look back. When you grow older, older than I’ll ever be, blow on the embers of that first heroic choice. You’ll be warmed, sustained.
Some day, you’ll have a son, remember, he’s your greatest gift. Tell him these things. Make a man of him. Love him. Don’t live to get money. Have a few things, but make them good things. Take care of them. Learn how they work. There is beauty in the smell of good machines and old leather.
When you walk, alone, in the autumn, down roads at night, with trees tossing in the sunset, know that I would give everything to walk with you and tell you their names. But I there, in the light, through the branches, and I’m loving you where I see you.
I must go now. All my love. For ever and ever.
Dad
Guess what day it is?
October 28, 2013 by 33 Comments
5:58 pm. Today.
| Rachel: | Hi Dad! |
| Dad: | GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS? |
| Rachel: | What? |
| Dad: | GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS? |
| Rachel: | DAD! Why are you yelling? |
| Dad: | GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS? |
| Rachel: | OK Dad. It’s Monday. What’s Up? |
| Dad: | You didn’t return my call last night. |
| Rachel: | I didn’t have time. I was busy studying for a big test. |
| Dad: | Really? |
| Rachel: | Really. |
| Dad: | GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS? |
| Rachel: | (Silence. She’s been at this show before. Boom coming down) |
| Dad: | Honey, today is PARENTS’ APPRECIATION DAY! |
| Rachel: | What? |
| Dad: | Yes. From 7pm to 10pm, you will appreciate your Parents. |
| Rachel: | (Silence. She’s not sure where this is going but she knows it’s a bad place.) |
| Dad: | I checked our bill during the time you were busy doing homework last night. |
| Dad: | Looks like you had plenty of time to send text messages to your friends. |
| Rachel: | (More silence) |
| Dad: | So, your cell service will be cut off from 7pm to 10pm. |
| Rachel: | OK Dad. |
| Dad: | Love you Honey. Can you hear me now? |
Dear Kids
September 5, 2013 by 60 Comments
Dear Rachel & Eric:
I shared the article below from today’s paper with your Mother. She’s gloating: “I told you so.” I’m snarling: “This is utter nonsense.” Mom’s espousing “Let Freedom Reign.” Dad’s fencing is well established and flashing warning signals: “Cross the line, you’ll do the time.”
You three, huddled in your sheltered cocoon, will see the light.
Hang on to this post and drag it out when your children reach adolescence, and ask the following hypothetical (NOT) questions:
- Rachel, your daughter, three days after acquiring her driver’s license, exits a parking lot without looking in both directions, and piles into an oncoming car – – causing $4,000 damage to your car. Do you blow her a kiss and tell her: “Honey, the best way to deal with this is to get back up on the iron horse.”
- Eric, if your son backs your car into his friend’s rock wall, shredding the rear of the car, do you tell him: “Son, mistakes happen. Please be sure to take more care next time.”
- Rachel, your daughter is laying on the couch watching three consecutive episodes of New Jersey Housewives. You are exhausted from being up early, frazzled from working late and from your commute home – – and you are in the midst of preparing dinner. You ask her to walk the dog three times and she ignores you. Do you walk up politely and say: “Honey, could you please help me out here? Or, are you tired from your difficult day at school?“
- Eric, your son is on his second hour of Playstation and has ignored your 2 prior calls for bedtime. Do you walk up to him, sit down and ask: “Son, could please put down the game, get undressed and go to bed.“
Do these stories sound familiar? Hmmmmm. Right.
Being a parent, your Parents, has been our greatest blessing.
I can’t wait to watch you shine.
Love,
Dad
P.S. Re: Having children. Absolutely no need to rush into things.
Study Says Yelling Is As Hurtful as Hitting [Read more…]
What did Dad pack you for lunch?
April 30, 2013 by 29 Comments
David Laferriere, a graphic designer and illustrator from Massachusetts, has been drawing on his kids’ sandwich bags with a Sharpie marker for more than five years. 1111 bags and counting. “I’ve been doing it for my kids since they were little…They love it, and nothing makes me happier than hearing their reaction at the end of the day…I used to work nights at a newspaper, and I’d be up early in the morning making my kids sandwiches,” LaFerriere, a graphic designer at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, told Mashable. “I started drawing on the baggies, sort of as a way to channel my creative juices in the morning, and it just ended up sticking.” His kids, Evan, 16, and Kenny, 14, were both in elementary school when it started. Now that they’re older, LaFerriere said, they and their friends still look forward to the drawings every day. I’d like to keep doing this for as long as possible. Of course, things will change once they go to college — but I can still send illustrated care packages,” he said. See Flickr blog for the video. See Laferriere’s Flickr photostream for all of his illustrations. Cool!
Sources: blog.ficker.net and Mashable.com,
As it should be…
February 21, 2013 by 13 Comments
My daughter Rachel’s response when I shared this with her: “hahahahhahahahahahhaa so so true!!!!”
Source: themetapicture.com
Yup. Nailed it.
October 9, 2012 by 48 Comments
Guest Post: Squirm. Splash. Sink.
August 5, 2012 by 40 Comments
After reading Friday’s post (The King loses (again)…), Eric (18, son) was inspired to share a family vacation story. The fact that he read my post was a head-scratcher…so best to nurture this sudden interest in both reading and writing. I should disclose upfront, that I fail to see any humor in this story – and I say “story” as I don’t recall this version of the events. Here it is…unedited and unplugged. (And yes, the photo is an actual photo of me during the scuba lesson.)
SQUIRM. SPLASH. SINK.
By Eric Kanigan
Anyone who knows my Dad personally can attest to the enjoyment he gets out of poking fun at others, to phrase it nicely (in reality it’s usually a firm jab rather than a poke). For those that do not know him, just imagine a person who loves to relive the details of your painfully embarrassing moments months, sometimes years after they occur. Throw in a mustache to your mental image and presto! You have David Kanigan!
It only seems fitting to return the favor, so it’s time for a trip down memory lane.
Live & Learn 