MyFox
 

Gray Skies Are Gonna Clear Up....!

by dangray from st. louis

Last Post 17 days, 12 hours Ago


Hey Dads, Get Your Kids A Father's Day Gift!
Jun 13, 2008 | 7:21 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

A couple of months ago, my 28 year old son Nick asked if I could fix a broken audio cassette he found in the basement of his mother's house. It was a recording of his mom and I talking to Nick when he was 1, 2 and 3 years old. Precious moments: singing "Rejoice in the Lord", "Away in The Manger", telling knock knock jokes, etc. Finally, I repaired the tape and dubbed the audio onto a CD for a more permanent recording.

I have listened to it several times now and each time tears come to my eyes. Hearing the voice of my three year old son Nicky (the name we called him then) reminded me of what a good little boy he was and what an outstanding man he is. Listening to him at that age immediately took me back to that warm, safe, loving place.

After going through a divorce, Father's Day has been a difficult holiday to celebrate with my two boys. This year I am hoping to take some of that tension away. On Sunday, I am going to give Nick a copy of the CD. Andy is going to get a copy of a 1991 newspaper article that praises his actions on the runway in a father/son fashion show. At age 5, he stole the show with his sunglasses and tough look at the audience.

We are forever connected to our children. Past. Present. Future. Remembering the good times can help get us through challenging times. Dads, build a new memory with your children by giving them a gift for Father's Day! An old picture, letter, book, report card, team cap or uniform, video, audio tape, etc. A new tradition begins!

Please share your thoughts. I will let you know how it goes with my boys.

Happy Father's Day!

PS. Maybe moms could also return the favor next year on Mother's Day.
12 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 12
Page 1 of 1
kk_mom read my blog view my photos
Jun 13, 2008 | 7:30 PM

What a great idea Dan, I got goose bumps when I read your blog. I will remember this and always try to give my children something on Mom's day. Have a great day!
michelle4wellness read my blog view my photos
Jun 13, 2008 | 10:44 PM

Congrats on writing your very best blog! You might want to change that bio to read "I'll be glad to give you advice on blog-writing..."

Nick and Andy are going to love their gifts! I'm wondering if you will listen to the CD with Nick or let him listen to it alone. You could arrange to have his version of "Rejoice In The Lord" to come piping in on the speakers when you guys are at the Cards game Sunday....

Happy Father's Day, Dan. You have much to be proud of in your sons...and they have much to be proud of in their dad.
mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
Jun 14, 2008 | 7:42 AM

There is a Pocketwatch that has been passed down in my family..... When my father passes I will be the fourth generation to own it.... It started with my great grandfather....... Whenever I hold it in my hand I can feel some magic.....
Fathers Day is not so much about the gift but more the spirit........
wackymom read my blog view my photos
Jun 14, 2008 | 11:11 PM

How sweet & thoughtful that is! They grow up soooo
fast, amazing isn't it?

Happy Father's Day, Dan!
AngelaHutti read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 11:01 AM

Great blog Dan! I love it when my Dad pulls out old family photos and tells me the stories behind them. He may have told me the same stories a hundred times before, but I never get sick of hearing them. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
IbKat read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 11:38 AM

I think kids are a reflection of their parents - congrats on having such wonderful sons Dan. Happy Fathers Day
Sophia121 read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 12:20 PM

What a concept! Great Blog Dan and Happy Father's Day to you!!!
rosie read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 12:31 PM

i am a pack rat so i have boxes of my kids drawings and mothers day cards from kindergarden... sometimes it brings a tear to my eyes too to read them... i even have a potato necklace that my oldest son made me for mothers day one year, and he made me wear it to church , i managed to get it off before we went in, and he noticed... i just couldnt get myself to wear it in there, and it still smells like potatoes. lol
MissDaisy read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 5:05 PM

Happy Father's Day to all of our Dad's! May you all continue to make cherishable memories!
theirmom99 read my blog view my photos
Jun 15, 2008 | 10:07 PM

Good post, Dan! I hope you had a very nice Fathers' Day with your sons!!

How cool to have that tape/cd, and the newspaper clipping, I bet those brought back a lot of memories (almost makes you want to have another?!?!?! lol)! Those are really cool gifts that I bet your sons will treasure always.

:)

Hope you had a great day!
Cheetah read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 1:04 PM

I'm no blog expert! Nor an exceptional writer but this is very well-written because it puts me right there with you, even though I don't know you nor your son, nor have a similar experience.

So, have you interest in being a ghost-writer for me -- paid to write my blogs and find the words I can't manage to find?!

On a serious note, for me, Father's Day is for sons more so than it is for their fathers. To a father it's just a day. But for a son, it's a day to admire their father and show their father just what they mean to them. Of course, for a son in his mid-20's and a father in his 40's -- and above, the day is a day for both to celebrate one another.

My father has passed on. Each year on that day and many other days, I think of and look at my father's life through the memories of I have of him, and wish, more than I've words for, there were more memories or even better, no need for memories at all -- because of his presence; instead, his having been in my life throughout this time.

My dad died less than a month after my 20th birthday and at 46, he's been gone for more than 1/2 of my life -- throughout the last 26 years I have become a man on my own, and as a result, made many mistakes. I cannot help but wonder how very better and different this time would have been with him, rather than without him. At age 20 is when the journey begins, and I just didn't have the maturity, appreciation and understanding you develop at some point after age 30 or 40.

Anyway, I hope Dan that you and your sons continue to develop the special bond that fathers and sons want
Cheetah read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 1:08 PM

want and need, and that your sons' marriages remain intact -- although the latter is probably too wishful thinking...
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




dangray

I anchor the 5pm FOX 2 Newscast Monday-Friday and report nightly stories for FOX 2 News at 9. Blogging is new to me. So bear with me. Advice is welcome.

Member Since: 9/14/2006