Your Family is a Great Family
By uss_dad
We open the first of our parenting classes each session by declaring, “Every kid wants a great family!” The bottom line is that our kids, regardless how they have come into “our family,” almost desperately want their family to be a great family! In this respect, we are no different except that as adults, our growing up years are behind us rather than ahead of us.
The only way that your kids will be able to have a great family is if you make that reality happen for them. “You” are the only family that they have and they are counting on you (just like you counted on your parents) to make that a reality in their life.
The things that make for a great family are more frequently taught rather than caught. This is great news if your past is checkered with difficult or painful childhood memories because you can prevent that from happening to your own children…but it will take work. If there is an unhealthy or unhappy trend in your family tree, decided even at this very moment that your family is going to be different. Decide that your family is going to be a great family!
How Do I Make My Family a Great Family?
We are all coming from very different life stories and backgrounds. The journey ahead is consequently going to be more difficult for some than for others.
In the 1990′s when we began teaching parenting classes for young parents, the program ran for more than 17 weeks! In recent years, we have streamlined the class down to 9 weeks in order to hopefully accommodate more parents and their hectic schedules. We have had several couples re-take our class every few years just because they recognize that the issues they face with their kids change substantially as their kids grow up.
The point is this: building a great family takes a genuine commitment on the part of the parents
(both parents, not just Mom).
In California, teenagers are required to have 50 hours of instruction behind the wheel of a car (with their parents) before they can get their driver’s license. In contrast, there is NO instruction of any kind required in order to become a parent even though the parenting-job is much much more difficult and involved.
Many dads want to own their own businesses or be one of the big-cheese guys where they work. In order for your kids to have a truly great family, dads have to be the CEO and the big-cheese guys in their families! I just cannot say this loudly or frequently enough. There are some phenomenal statistics about family life-experiences when dad is engaged as a “USS Dad” versus just going along for the ride!
In high school, I played quarterback and I was also the team captain my senior year. I discovered that it was remarkably easier to do the calisthenics and sprints because I knew exactly when we were going to stop each drill as the team captain. It is no different being a “USS Dad” in your own family rather than just just hanging back and depending upon your wife to do it all. Dads, I know first-hand about 100-hour work-weeks, and meeting payrolls, and business ups and downs, but beyond all of this your family needs you to be a USS Dad; no one else can fill your shoes! Do not buy into the lie that somehow your kids don’t need you or can get along without you! You could get through life with only one leg too, but no one would obviously choose that route.
Most parents just “wing it,” making up their parenting roles along the way. There is a far far more excellent way, however. And even if your family is hitting on all cylinders and doing great, I’ll bet that you can even do better and / or help some other family discover what you have already discovered for yourself.
So, how do you have a great family? Keep reading.
Im listening!@;)