It’s probably a thought that lingers in the back of all parents’ minds. What have I taught my children as they go forward in life? Or as they like to say in the sports biz, “upon further review” how has dad measured up in providing necessary life skills? Here’s a rather brief breakdown of a few major milestones.
First steps: Was dad the main walking instructor? Probably not. Mom did a lot of the grunt work, helped along by my kids’ own determination, little tables and Jolly Jumpers.
First words: I do remember “dadda” coming out first and, although it was a proud moment for me, I think it had more to do with how easy it is to roll off the tongue compared to “mamma.” Most of the work since then has come from teachers and a boatload of books.
Learning to read: Although I loved reading Gilda Joyce mystery books to the girls and no doubt had great bonding time at night with them (which I now believe translates to a love of Criminal Minds), I don’t think I can take credit for their reading ability. As for their love of TV crime dramas, I think actors like Shemar Moore might have more of an influence than anyone else.
Learning how to drive: I have started my oldest on the basics since her recent successful completion of her G2 licence, but (thankfully) the bulk of her learning will come from a professional.
Sports skills: I loved soccer, a sport I excelled at in school, but both my kids followed sports (volleyball and track sprinting) I had little or no experience in. No luck on that front.
There’s only one thing I can take credit for — an extremely important life skill they will be able to use and pass down to their own kids…
How to enjoy a jumbo freezie on a hot summer’s day!
It’s not rocket science, but twisting and squeezing the juice at the bottom and not making a mess of yourself when you cut it open is a skill! Especially when you are all boiling outdoors in the heat.
All the life skills are there: precision (cutting), multitasking (squeezing and massaging the freezie — pulling from the bottom to the top! — to get the right consistency of that juice for slurping) and of course determination. If at first you don’t succeed, grab another freezie out of the box and try again!
Nothing to worry about on my end. I’ve delivered some SOLID advice to the kiddos. It’s their job to squeeze it and make wonderful juice for the rest of their lives.