Fatherhood → Three Years of Lessons (Part 2 of 3)
I have been a father for three years now. In those three short years I have been blessed with two of the most incredible, intelligent, and beautiful boys a father could ever have. I know that the time I’ve spent mentoring and fathering them has impacted, and will continue to impact, their lives. However, it has also had a profound impact on my life and perspective. Here are ten lessons I have learned in the last three years of parenting (in no particular order).
- One-on-one time with children, and especially father to son, is more valuable and important than many realize.
- Learn to say, “I’m sorry,” and acknowledge your mistakes to your kids. If you can’t they won’t either.
- Before you ask a child what they think be sure you are prepared for the brutal, genuine, and honest truth.
- Children model what they see. Guard what you say and do as well as what you allow others to say and do around them.
- Parents, it’s your job to protect your children, from many different things, and it’s not inappropriate when you stand up for that.
- Cleaning a mess out of a pair of underwear every now and then is a welcome exchange for never having to buy diapers again!
- Teach your kids how to love and appreciate good movies and music. You’ll be watching and listening to what they like for years.
- Hug and kiss your kids every chance you get. There may come a day when they will be too cool for that. Especially boys.
- A little encouragement goes a long way, but a lot of encouragement goes even further.
- Boys learn how to treat women by watching their father and mother interact. Dads, make sure they are learning to love and respect women by watching you.
- BONUS: Tell your kids you love them until they think you’re lame. They really do need, and want, that continual affirmation of your love.
Most of you who read my blog on a regular basis have probably noticed a distinct lull as of late, and for good reason. My family has had a lot of life changing things happen and at the top of the list is the birth of this little guy. Cooper, our second son, was born this week. He is as happy and healthy as he could possibly be and his addition to our family is nothing short of “lifechanglingly-awesome”. Thanks to all of you who prayed for his arrival and helped us out both before and after. Our family is truly appreciative.
Well, the life-altering news just keeps on rolling into the Young household. As this picture suggests Jenna is 6 weeks pregnant and Young Baby #2 is on his/her way. The feeling that becoming a father of two brings is much different that the feeling of becoming a father for the first time. I guess because this time around we’re supposed to know what we’re doing, or at least a little bit. Either way, we are ready and excited to welcome this little guy/girl into the world and our family and give him/her all the love he/she could ever need. 

Sometimes being a father teaches you more about yourself than it does about your kids. As my son grows older it has become increasingly obvious that he is a carbon copy of me. His attitude, his demeanor, his temper, his mannerisms, and even his sense of humor typical Young guy through and through. At breakfast once this week we were enjoying his favorite food, a banana, when he spotted the blue sticker on the peel. He reached for it and I helped him peel it off and he proceeded, completely on his own, to place it on his face. As I went to tell him that’s not where it went I read the caption. “Place on forehead and smile.” Guess he knew what he was doing. 



