#52 Stories--Story #35

How do you strive to emulate your father's example? 

My dad was and continues to be a great example to me in many ways. I try to hard to help my kids see that I love their dad the way my dad helped me see that he loved my mom. Sometimes that was embarrassing to us as we were growing up--but it is such a foundation piece of my feelings that my family was secure and safe.  I knew they loved each other by the way they talked to each other, and the way they shared the burdens of life together. They worked hard together and set goals together. and they definitely were affectionate to each other.  Ewww, gross--sometimes when we were early in our youth--It was a little too much. Now, I look back and know that seeing that regularly was something I never had to worry about as my friends' parents were experiencing divorce or breakups. That just wasn't something that was going to happen to my parents.

Dad worked hard and never seemed to be done with things--in the best way. He always wanted to make things better and improve the situation with things. Projects would get completed, but there was always something more that he could do and he did it. I try ti see how to make things better as I go along in my work and at home and try to follow that example. I know his work ethic echoes in my head each day I have something I need to do--and I know I can do hard things because he showed me how.

He always taught me to look around for what needs to be done.  I know this began out of frustration that I wouldn't do the things that needed doing until I was asked to do them.  He wanted me--and my sister--to see those things for ourselves and just do it because it needed to be done. Now I do the same things with my own kids and even the younger employees I work with in my job. I don't have the same influence with those coworkers hat I did with my kids though. But my kids are good employees
for other people because they have learned "Grandpa's way of doing things".