Father's Day part 2

I heard this song growing up, it didn't really register until much later. When I started thinking about having a family, raising kids; I thought of this song and how my own father was.

This is a heart warming and heart warning song about what type of father I should be. (hopefully a video of Harry Chapin's Cat's in the Cradle will show up)



I still think of this song. I wonder what my kids are learning from me.

What I've learned from them is that it can be simple. Greatly oversimplifying things I think it can be boiled down to the difference of doing things and being there.

Doing things means you take your kids to Iron Man; being there means discussing the responsibility we have for our actions,

Doing things means taking them to Scouts; being there means sitting with your child when he is a little home sick and scared on a backpacking trip, waiting for him to fall asleep- comforted by the fact you are willing to sit on the ground next to his tent.

Doing things means keeping kids active in sports; being there means not just dropping them off for practice but working with them to improve.

Doing things means encouraging your kids to learn music; being there means not only listening to what can be best be described as strangling cats but also learning about music...letting them teach you.

Doing things means telling your kids you'll be there if they need to talk; being there means waiting up for them night after night so that eventually she sits down and talks instead of rushing to her room.

I couldn't list all the differences, there are too many ways fathers are there. Anyone can father a child, but being there is what defines a father to me.