I love being a daddy.
I love being 57 years old with eight children, including a 6, 7 and 12 year old still at home. I love walking with those children and having strangers stop me on the street and comment about how nice it is for "grandpa to have the grandkids out."
I love the surprise look on their face when I inform them that, though I am a grandfather, this day is not "grandpa with the grandkids," but "dad with the kids."
Nine times out of 10 they feel bad -- and embarrassed -- about their comment. I assure them I am neither offended nor hurt by it, but feel complimented.
After all, how many men my age can say they have children that young. Not many.
Having young children also keeps me young and fit. I don't have much time to sit back in that easy chair at home with the remote control neatly tucked under my arm.
I am a Little League coach in the summer and a Murphysboro Park District basketball coach in the winter. I use to coach flag football in the fall, but the family decided we all needed to rest at that time and focus on school.
I just don't have time to "grow old." Also, I don't want to grow old. I plan to cheat father time any pleasure he might get from seeing this 'ol boy grow old.
You don't have to grow old either. If you are one of those who love to complain about all their new aches and pains, stop it.
Sure, I have aches and pains -- usually in the morning after a night's sleep -- but I don't pay attention to them nor do I go around telling everyone. I prefer being positive. Within a few minutes of rising from bed, those pains are gone.
And, if you are a churchgoing person, you aren't suppose to speak negative. Jesus said His believers can speak to the mountain be picked up and move into the sea and it will go. (Matthew 21:21)
That being the case, I want my "growing old" mountains to fall into the sea and my youth and energy stay.
Now don't get me wrong. I realize my body will have to age. I can't help that. At 57, I do not look like I did at 27. But believe it or not I can still do most of what I did at 27 -- some of it I do even better.
If you think about it, there's a lot of life left in your bones too.
One of the most positive things I have experienced about getting old is growing in wisdom. I am a lot smarter today than I was at 27, though some people may want to debate that.
If only I knew at 27 what I know today.
Part of the problem, though, was I thought I knew everything at 27. I have some children today that feel the same way.
As I have gotten older, I have realized it's all right to admit that I don't know everything. But one of the great things about wisdom is I can always learn about the things I do not currently understand.
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I had the most wonderful hour long interview with SIU President Glenn Poshard on Tuesday at his office. It was the most enjoyable interview of my career and that is saying a lot.
In my 34 years as a journalist, it's been my privilege to interview some national and internationally-known people, including presidents, movie stars, etc.
They were all people who had reached great heights in life. But their is a difference between reaching great heights and being great.
Glenn Poshard is a great man who has reached great heights. You can read my interview with him next week.
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I love being a daddy.
I love being 57 years old with eight children, including a 6, 7 and 12 year old still at home. I love walking with those children and having strangers stop me on the street and comment about how nice it is for "grandpa to have the grandkids out."
I love the surprise look on their face when I inform them that, though I am a grandfather, this day is not "grandpa with the grandkids," but "dad with the kids."
Nine times out of 10 they feel bad -- and embarrassed -- about their comment. I assure them I am neither offended nor hurt by it, but feel complimented.
After all, how many men my age can say they have children that young. Not many.
Having young children also keeps me young and fit. I don't have much time to sit back in that easy chair at home with the remote control neatly tucked under my arm.
I am a Little League coach in the summer and a Murphysboro Park District basketball coach in the winter. I use to coach flag football in the fall, but the family decided we all needed to rest at that time and focus on school.
I just don't have time to "grow old." Also, I don't want to grow old. I plan to cheat father time any pleasure he might get from seeing this 'ol boy grow old.
You don't have to grow old either. If you are one of those who love to complain about all their new aches and pains, stop it.
Sure, I have aches and pains -- usually in the morning after a night's sleep -- but I don't pay attention to them nor do I go around telling everyone. I prefer being positive. Within a few minutes of rising from bed, those pains are gone.
And, if you are a churchgoing person, you aren't suppose to speak negative. Jesus said His believers can speak to the mountain be picked up and move into the sea and it will go. (Matthew 21:21)
That being the case, I want my "growing old" mountains to fall into the sea and my youth and energy stay.
Now don't get me wrong. I realize my body will have to age. I can't help that. At 57, I do not look like I did at 27. But believe it or not I can still do most of what I did at 27 -- some of it I do even better.
If you think about it, there's a lot of life left in your bones too.
One of the most positive things I have experienced about getting old is growing in wisdom. I am a lot smarter today than I was at 27, though some people may want to debate that.
If only I knew at 27 what I know today.
Part of the problem, though, was I thought I knew everything at 27. I have some children today that feel the same way.
As I have gotten older, I have realized it's all right to admit that I don't know everything. But one of the great things about wisdom is I can always learn about the things I do not currently understand.
----------
I had the most wonderful hour long interview with SIU President Glenn Poshard on Tuesday at his office. It was the most enjoyable interview of my career and that is saying a lot.
In my 34 years as a journalist, it's been my privilege to interview some national and internationally-known people, including presidents, movie stars, etc.
They were all people who had reached great heights in life. But their is a difference between reaching great heights and being great.
Glenn Poshard is a great man who has reached great heights. You can read my interview with him next week.
