What is a Parent?
I’ve been writing for a while now, see (http://cushingonline.com) and I’ve been coming across a bunch of really well written bloggers and realized one thing.
I am not a very good writer 
I am getting better though, and I realize that the reason for this blog is a many faceted one. I blog to keep my sanity. I blog to get my feelings and thoughts in order. There are way more posts that I write, that never get published, simply because they really wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense to anyone but me. (come on Dice K, throw a damn strike already)
Oh, sorry. I’m watching the Sox/Rays game right now. (Ah, he listened!)
I blog to converse with the internet, and the nice thing about it, is the internet is answering back There have been comments from as close as the 2nd floor of my Condo, to all the way out on the West Coast (HI MIKE!!! HI RAGING DAD!!!) The cool thing is, I feel like I’m finding friends in a way. Not someone I’ll call and tell my troubles to, but definitely people that read my stuff and comment and i’ll read theirs and comment there too. I feel like I’m part of a parental growing internet group.
So what is a parent anyway? I’ve been looking around at all of the blogs that are Dad oriented and they all talk about New Dads. You know what? Been there, done that. I’m father to an 11yr old boy and an 8 yr old girl. This blog isn’t about diapers and thomas the tank engine. It’s about how shitty 5th graders can be, and “Daddy, can I have a cell phone” and I’m gonna call you Dad in front of my friends, but Daddy at home, K?
I love being a father. I love being able to be for my kids what mine wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Dad. I’ve just been taking notes and learning over the years, and along with the lessons from my Father In Law, I have a fairly decent idea of what to do and what not to do. I still make mistakes, I still yell when I shouldn’t, but I think the things I do right far outweigh the things I do wrong.
I care for, love, play with, am stern with my kids and I love them more than anything in the world.
September 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I’m a relatively “new” dad but I’m also a terrible writer. Hell, I’m not only bad at writing, my spelling also sucks and my grammar = major FAIL! I’ve become more self conscious about it since my boss, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and Facebook friends all know about my blog.
It’s good to hear that other dads make mistakes. With a newborn @ home life gets a little hectic and I’m quick to snap at my oldest (who turns 3 in October) and then I feel like crap 5 minutes later!
September 16th, 2008 at 11:03 am
We all make mistakes as parents. I think if the children in our lives know that they can count on us and that we love them then we are doing a good job already. So many kids seem like an afterthought in their parents lives.
If we are doing everything we can to teach them how to be self-sufficient individuals someday then you are way ahead of the game. From what I’ve read, you and Fae are stellar parents.
Oh and kudos for encouraging Fae to get out. Some moms I know have the opportunity but refuse to leave their kids with the dad. I agree that everyone needs a break from the parenting thing occasionally and have some strictly adult time.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:49 am
You knew I was going to follow you to your new site. Can’t rid of me that easily.
Seriously, keep it up. Writing is a process and we all need to go through the process. Take a little from here and there and soon you’ll develop your style.
I like my writing style that I’m working on. Thank God my wife is an English teacher. She does the occasional edit for me. Not content be grammer and spelling, I am the worst.
I think we have three types of dads out here in cyberspace. The ones like Tyler who are new, you who have the grade schoolers and I who have the teenagers. I think we all can learn from each other.
Keep it up…