Topic: Fathers and offspring

[TechPro]

Yes, this is a Father's Day posting.  And why not?  We all have at least one, like it or not.  Some good, some bad.  Some more absentee, some there too much.  Some big, some small.  Just like the rest of us, Fathers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors ... and you almost never get to choose.

I could sing the praises of Fathers, I could rant and rave about the flaws of many fathers these days, and I could go to very long lengths about the poor example that Hollywood and Television usually portrays fathers (want an example of a terrible father? Watch just about any sitcom or action show).  But what would that accomplish?

If you are a Father, or if you expect to someday be a Father, I urge you to be loving, kind, forgiving, loving, forgiving some more ... and always be consistent.  Always stick to what you say you're going to do, if you say there will be consequences ... stick to it.  Make a promise, do your best to always keep it.  Don't let your child get away with stuff ”because he's young" or because you don't want to make him/her unhappy.  Show your child you love them by being firm and teaching your child that you care enough to be trying to help the child become more.  At the same time, be interested in what he/she is interested in, even if you don't understand it, and give them room for self expression.

Love comes from the heart, not from the wallet.

[-<WillyP>-]

Some good thoughts there, and I agree on both counts... firm, absolute, but loving and forgivfull*. They are not mutually exclusive.

* Is that a word? If not, it is now.

[Kaiaatzl]

...firm, absolute, but loving and forgiving. They are not mutually exclusive.

Even though the kids might tell you otherwise .  When they get older they'll thank you for it.
I can speak from experience -- as someone who has a father .

[Foil]

I became a father about four years ago, and I'm learning a lot of this as I go along.  So far, I'm finding that the above is 100% true. 

...and yes, I think "forgivfull" should be a word. 

[Scyphi]

I'd try spelling it "forgiveful" though, just so it's consistent with typical English spellings of similar words.

Techpro's advice is tested and tried and proven to be very effective. Trust me, I'd know.

[Kaiaatzl]

What does English care about consistency?

[TechPro]

Techpro's advice is tested and tried and proven to be very effective. Trust me, I'd know.

Ah shucks [...blush...] 

[VANGUARD]

I think I had a dream about my dad, third time in a row.
Sometimes I wonder what my dad would think of me, or anyone else, if he was still alive.

But anyways, hopefully you all had a fun Fathers Day;

[Scyphi]

What does English care about consistency?

Ha, good point. English has never been very consistent with itself, so why should this matter?

"Forgiveful" just looks better to me than "forgivfull," though.

[Kaiaatzl]

And "forgiving" is actually an adjective, even though most "ing" words are verbs.  It means the same thing.

[Scyphi]

Hey, WillyP came up with the word, not me.