I love you, Max.

Max riding train at Branson Landing (07-05-2012)

Max in the park (Sunday is Son-Day)

Hi Max!

I love you. I'm proud of you. I love to "get you" and love to play with you - even when it is just wheeling trucks around the floor. 

Here's what I wrote to my Facebook Friends today and I was inspired to share this with you: 

"Sunday is Son-Day. Here's what I hope - I hope that you love your kids as much as I love my son. I love his bad days (today when he "didn't want to play" soccer and I was pulling my hair out - quietly). I love his good days. And every day in between. He's not perfect and he has a father who is really struggling at this Dad thing. And he loves his mother right now more than his Daddy (it's a time thing), but here's what I wish for you... Parents tell your kids - sit them down, as awkward as it may be, and tell them - how much you love them, how proud of them you are, and how much they mean to you. Hug them, kiss them on the cheek, and take that moment. It's worth it. In all the hustle and bustle of the world, it's worth it... to stop a second and just show some love to your kids. No more assuming they "just know" you love them, but let them know how sincerely grateful you are for them and how much you love them. Sunday is Son-Day for me and for a Dad that screws up a lot and isn't there as much as he would like, it's a day that I wouldn't miss. It's a day to take a step out of the rat race and away from the concrete jungle, and hug our little animals and play with our little monkeys. Blessings, my Friends. +m2 P.S. And as a kid with four siblings, do this individually - one at a time with each kid if you have more than one."

Max, I love you. I'm proud of you. You are going to be a GREAT kid, a GREAT PERSON. You are a great kid now but you can improve, and please know your Mommy and Daddy are dedicated to becoming the best parents possible to help you to be the best person possible. It's not going to happen overnight - every minute, every second is a chance to praise, discipline, or teach - and quite frankly, we are overwhelmed and seeking consistency - consistency of discipline, consistency of message, consistency of schedule. We are getting there. Just know we care, we care enough to get better. We may never master parenting, but we will get better. 

Remember, you're the best. You can do it. You are equipped with the talent, smarts, and abilities to do ANYTHING YOU WANT. You are so helpful, a leader, a server, a light in any room you enter. You're the best. You're the greatest. You're the Max. =0) 

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

My Apologies for the Delay...

Hi Max!

We had another terrific day today! We played in the morning before you went to school and then I got to pick you up after school. I asked where you wanted to eat and you said, "Buffalo." I knew that meant Buffalo Wild Wings and you don't go there for the food, you go there for the games. What a great concept for a restaurant! Make the experience great for kids and the parents will follow. If they just did free kids meals Wednesday's or something... we'd go every week! =0) 

Sorry for the delay (can you believe it has been over 60 days since my last post?). It is quite powerful getting to actually talk WITH you instead of just write to you. You are so fun to be around! 

I just read this article and it made me sad --> http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/you-just-broke-your-child.html/2/. 

I am so glad we hang out, play baseball or soccer, play "get me" which is your favorite game in which I chase you around the house and tackle and hug you. So blessed to have the opportunity to sepnd a lot of time with you and help raise you. You hate to be disciplined, but please know it is for your own good. You will think us some day for that. You got told no tonight when you wanted to play in the water instead of going to bed - when you are tired, you get cranky (but you are getting better - it's great to watch you learn and mature!). But we stood our guns and guess what? In two minutes you were fine. 

Remind me to tell you how proud of you I am. I promise to write sooner next time. 

Love you. 

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. You're awesome. 

What's your average?...

Hi Bay-Bee!

90 days to go! Are you kidding me? :)

Something my father said to me after a late night with my buddies has rang loudly in my head for years.

It was very late, after 1 a.m., on a summer night. I was 16. I had been picked up earlier in the evening at my house by three of my buddies. A couple of seniors, a junior (and I was a junior) went to cruise on Santa Fe. That was what high schoolers did for fun on Friday and Saturday nights and most of the summer. Cruising Santa Fe Street in Olathe (a bigger city just 10 minutes away from Gardner) was a big deal. Hundreds of cars and perhaps 400-500 teenagers flocked to the main street in Olathe on a nightly basis during the summer. Muscle cars and muscle shirts led to revving engines and short skirts. Every night was a party on "the Fe".

This particular night I was hanging out with a couple of seniors who were perhaps more notorious than famous. They were known to be pretty wild and reckless. That night was no exception. There was alcohol available. I'm not positive, but I believe there was something smoked (and I'm positive something was smoked on the Fe that night). (Note: Don't want to insinuate that I smoked anything, I was taught well here and had the good fortune of having "sports" father me when my father wasn't fathering me so I never smoked anything). There were races. It's a wonder nobody was arrested or hurt, though I know that many people were stopped by police on a nightly basis. My parents didn't have a curfew, but midnight was an implied "time to be home" because as my dad used to say, and I'm quoting, "Nothing good happens after midnight."

The guys dropped me off and I cringed when they revved the engine and peeled out from in front of my house. So when I rolled in at about 1 a.m. (perhaps later), I was only slightly surprised that my dad was still awake. He had shorts on and his typical white t-shirt. His five o'clock shadow had browned to a 1 a.m. shadow. He wasn't upset or mad or yelling. He never did that (except when it came to coaching, and even then it was rare and most of the time I thought it was more to fire his team up then it was anger). He simple stated, "Mike, I just want you to remember one thing: You are the average of the five people with whom you hang out most." That's it.

That's all he had to say. I got it. That was the last night I went out with those three. I continued to be alert to who I was hanging out with and even to this day, I strive to raise my average at all times. So what's your average? Who do you need to QUIT hanging out with and with whom do you need to start SPENDING MORE TIME? Raise your average today and call someone you love.

Bay-Bee, this is a very valuable lesson.

To Your Success,

Bay-Bee's Papa (Michael)