re: OT dads, allow me to get a bit sappy. Sing to your kids. Sing them lullabies.

Way back when, I used to sing the Ballad of Curtis Lowe. I miss those days

I worked full time and had a business with a partner as side work when my time girls were very young. I quit that side business because I didn't want to show up just in time to see 'em walk down the aisle. The money from the side job was good-the time-experiences with my daughters were absolutely priceless. Yes,it's gone in the blink of an eye;however, the time spent with your children is a "not to be missed" time in the life of both parties. My girls are both gone and in their thirties now. One lives out of state and the other lives close by. Both of those girls love their daddy and that feels just great.

This is what I sang to my son:

I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles
Such are promises
All lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
When I left my home and my family
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station
Running scared
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie

Asking only workman's wages
I come looking for a job
But I get no offers
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there

La-la-la-la-la-la-la
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Leading me
Going home

In the clearing stands a boxer
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains

Mm-mm-mm
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-lie-lie-lie-lie-lie, lie-lie-lie-lie-lie


He’s 14 now, and still tells me he loves me...but he’s don’t know how long that will last. I expect not much longer. I need to play this song for him to see if he has any memories of being tiny and me rocking him to sleep singing to him.

Thats what yoytube is for. Give mine an ipad, put on some songs. He is happy all night. Memories for a lifetime

Yes, savor the sweet times

Well, now you've got me all teary-eyed. You are right. My granddaughter is already two, and I know that soon she will be off to school and I won't have that precious time with her anymore.

Those are the little things they will carry with them to give to their kids someday. And your legacy of love will live on.

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They'll eventually turn into teenagers, and they'll think that they have to distance themselves from you, but if you have that foundation with them as little kids, they'll still respect you and understand that the parent is always in control of everything, even if they don't act like it.

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Then they will be in their 20s, grown up and moved out. And they will call you when things happen good and bad, to share with you. And they will request things in their Christmas stockings that are nostalgic. And their favorite foods. And one more family vacation. And it is just as awesome as when they were babies.

Being a dad is an amazing experience.

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And they will call you when things happen good and bad, to share with you. And they will request things in their Christmas stockings that are nostalgic. And their favorite foods. And one more family vacation. And it is just as awesome as when they were babies.

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I can admit my family was fricked up because all these things sound like torture to me

They grow up quick pal

Enjoy it

I have to remind myself often they are just kids and treat them as such.