A good sport
I believe I've mentioned before that as a mother, I never wanted boys. I'm far too overprotective and far too not interested in sports to have raised a healthy and happy son. I know that, accept that about myself.
Sure, Jim would have helped out, but being much like me and more into sedate activities such as enjoying music and movies and being a spectator of sports more so than a participant, together we likely would have squelched a free-spirited and energy-filled boy.
That said, though, I'm absolutely thrilled to have grandsons. And I'm absolutely delighted that Preston has proved himself to be the ideal dad for high-energy and sports-minded Bubby (as will likely be the case with Mac as he grows, too).
Preston has the time, patience, athletic ability, and inclination for doing the dad-like things a growing boy needs.
Preston chases Bubby around the splash pad, eliciting squeals from Bubby that "the water monster" is after him:
Preston teaches Bubby the correct way to hold the bat and encourages hard hits from the little leftie:
And he regularly gets Bubby out and about for bike rides around the block — with Preston walking running alongside quite a bit of the way:
Of course, bike rides and batting practice must take place late in the evening when you live in the desert heat (hence the dark photos), which means Preston deserves all the more props for doing such things after working all day.
I gotta hand it to him. Preston's exactly the kind of dad Bubby and Mac need.
But he also comes in pretty handy in other ways, ways that I personally appreciate and benefit from.
For starters, he gets points for squashing the scorpion that tried to crash Mac's baptism party:
And — with Megan's fruit-chopping assistance — he whipped up a refreshingly tasty sangria as part of the baptism celebration refreshments:
Yep, Preston's an all-around athletic, scorpion-squishing, sangria-serving, delightful, loved, and appreciated member of our family.
I think we'll keep him.
Today's question:
Fill in the blank: Three ingredients that make up a good dad are ___________, ___________, and ________. (Don't wanna talk dads? Feel free to substitute "sangria" for "dad".)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Reader Comments (13)
Good ingredients for Dad:
Patience
Listening
Participating
My Dad was and is all of the above, with his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He's amazing.
What you and Terri said. And especially the ability to squash scorpions, spiders and bugs.
You're right, Preston is a KEEPER...Megan did good.
Isn't it just wonderful when your daughter picks someone you really like?
His 3 best ingredients:
1. He has read to Amara at bedtime every night for 7 years!
2. He is a good scientist for all those homework projects
3. He fixed Grandma's Air Conditioning last summer when it was 105 (very important quality!)
As for the sangria.....
Red Wine
Oranges
Berries
I wholeheartedly agree with Terri....it's as if she read my mind.
Great pics.....except the scorpion!
1. Loves or at least respects his/her mother and speaks well of her to the child.
2. Plays or spends time with the child, finds and encourages his/her unique gift/s.
3. Reads to the child and encourages the child to read by discussing his/her books.
One of the things I am most grateful for is that all of my grandkids have great dads who are involved. loving and good examples.
Love ,Patience, Kindness are what i'm thinking make agood Dad or the beginning of a good Dad.
It amazes me that you didn't want boys and didn't get any. You deserved five of them for the comment alone! :O)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!! A SCORPION!!!!!!!!
Three ingredients: Patience, Love, Kindness, a dash of Understanding, and an overflowing cup of Humor.
Ok, that's more than three ingredients. Math was never my strong point.
My grands have amazing dads too. Two of them being son in laws that I adore and one being my own son who is Mr. Mom to three little boys during the day and works in his home office by night.
I would say patience, to teach by example, and unconditional love.
Great post!
EWWWWW on the scorpion! Preston is really a keeper!
Congratulations and many blessing on Mac's Christening
Fill in the blank: Three ingredients that make up a good dad are Love, Patience and Spending quality time with their children.
Luck for me I had a wonderful Dad and my husband is a wonderful Father!
An open heart, an open mind, and a gentle, guiding hand make a good dad in my book.
Can't do the fill-in-the-blank format, but here goes. A good dad spends time with his kids because he genuinely wants to be with them. He knows how to talk to them and how to listen to them, and when each is appropriate. He offers unconditional love but not unconditional approval.