Max, I just had to show you this!...

Hi Max!

Yesterday I was looking through some Facebook messages and posts and saw a Cherryvale, Kansas post. It led me to this:



That is your grandfather, MY father, Pat Maher. This is a picture of him from his yearbook. He was an All-State basketball AND football player. He was quite the athlete, but what warms my heart the most is what people are saying after I posted his pic. I've copied them here. It's an online conversation that's just a day old, but look at those words people use to describe him: respectful, kind, warm, great, love, All-American, patient, excellent, humble, etc.

TITLE: All I'm going to say is WOW! This is a picture of my dad (Pat Maher) shooting a basketball (All-State basketball and football). +m2 P.S. Jim, Dan, Linda, correct me if I'm wrong on All-State in both sports.

In this photo: Jim Maher (photos | remove tag), Susan Maher Swope (photos | remove tag), Linda Hammer (photos | remove tag), Dan Maher (photos | remove tag), Taina Chiefs Copeland (photos | remove tag), Max Maher (photos | remove tag), Michael J. Maher-Realtor (photos | remove tag), Brian Maher (photos | remove tag), Rob Maher (photos | remove tag)

Added yesterday · Like · Comment
Ilsa Koenig Steward, Ginger Schulz Crist, Diana Shirley and 14 others like this.

Taina Chiefs Copeland Sure wish Facebook had a LOVE button:) Can you please tag me. Would love to have this pic:) If ya dont mind:)
15 hours ago · Like

Taina Chiefs Copeland Thank you so much Mike! Love ya:)
14 hours ago · Like

Linda Hammer As far as I can remember that is right, Mike. He was a natural athlete in all sports. I was so proud to be the "little Maher"!! That's what everyone called me as I acted all bashful and sweet! lol! My brothers and sisters were all stars in my eyes!
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person

Janet Parsons Wow way cool!
14 hours ago · Like

Doug Lay I always liked your Dad and looked up to him. I never knew he was an All-Stater! Thanks for sharing. Way Cool!!!!!
14 hours ago · Like · 1 person

Donna Mae Huntington I think Pat was your brother, rather than your Dad.....correct me if I'm wrong.
13 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher He was my Dad. He passed away on 09-01-92. +m2
13 hours ago · Like

Shannon Menzer Isn't that Rusty???? LOL
13 hours ago · Like

Taina Chiefs Copeland Kinda looks like him but thats my Uncle Pat:)
13 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher I was at a student-faculty game (students not in basketball play faculty for charity) - my first year of college I think. Came back to watch (and visit girlfriend). He played one quarter. He hit six 3-pointers in a row and the last one was from 30 feet. Came out after 5 or 6 minutes and was done (he was really out of shape). It was AWESOME! He shot a set-shot, push shot. I think 1 of them hit rim. Sadly, that was the only time I saw him play in any sort of competitive game (basketball, softball, etc.). +m2
13 hours ago · Like · 1 person

Shannon Menzer I knew it was...but it Rusty sure looks like him!
13 hours ago · Like

Linda Hammer Yes, Shannon, Rusty looks like my side of the family and Ryan looks just like his Dad!
13 hours ago · Like

Linda Hammer Thanks for that story, Mike. I wonder if we could get ahold of someone from your Dad's class to see if there were ever any films made that he would be in. Let me do some checking. (And, yes, we had film back in those days! lol! Well, I was about 6 years younger than Pat!)
13 hours ago · Like

Jeff Wipperman Great picture Mike.
12 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher Thanks Jeff. Good to hear from you. Still want your kid's basketball schedule - hear he's quite a player. +m2
12 hours ago · Like

Jeff Wipperman You need to watch one of our teams play some time. We have 4th and 6th grade. I will always post the schedules on the PowerGroup facebook page. Call me later this week. Let's catch up.
12 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher Will do. +m2
12 hours ago · Like

Linda Hammer Oh, wow! Just read your post, Donna! That name throws me every time. Yes, Pat was my brother, not my Dad. He was Mike's Dad. Mke's my nephew, and so on and so forth...........
12 hours ago · Like

Jim Maher Mike - can't say for sure on Pat's All State selections but I think that right. I just know he was All Everything to his baby brother. Dan and Al were great too (Dan was an All State Football Lineman), but I don't really remember them playing, and only vaguely remember your Dad's College days. Did you know he was a three sport letterman at Indy JuCo?
11 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher ‎3-sports? Basketball, football, and ? +m2 P.S. I knew Dan was All-State - Guard I believe.
11 hours ago · Like

Rob Maher I thought the 3rd sport was track.
11 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher What else is there? What did he do in track? +m2
11 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher Rob, isn't this a cool picture? +m2
11 hours ago · Like

Jim Maher Yes third sport was track.
11 hours ago · Like

Jim Maher Don't know what events tho.
11 hours ago · Like

Julee Warren That is so cool! Great Pic!
3 hours ago · Like

Dan Maher I enlisted in the Air Force after graduation. Did not get to see Pat play very much. But he was all-everything for Cherryvale High School in football and basketball. I was discharged the same year that Pat graduated (1956) and we attend ICC at the same time. The main thing is that Pat was an All American Man. He was a very respected, humble and kind human being. He never said a bad thing about anyone. He fought the cancer for a long time. Great memories.
3 hours ago · Like · 2 people

Christina Marie Dreiling Wow! Pretty Cool Michael! That's where you get all of your talent:)
2 hours ago · Like

Susan Maher Swope He was an All American dad to me! Amazing that we did not know this about him. I miss him and Dan, you are right, he truly was a respected, humble and kind human being. I'm proud to be his daughter.
about an hour ago · Like · 2 people

Amy Cunningham I loved your dad; he was a patient teacher and an excellent coach. I wish I could have played more than one year for him - I always thought that our team could have accomplished great things with him at the helm. A true class act.
about an hour ago · Like

Michael J. Maher Thanks Jim and Julee. Dan, so true. I always assume everyone knows that. :) I shouldn't do that. He was truly kind, humble, and respected. A great dad. @Christina, if you think he's good, you should see my MOM! =0) Truly special dad. :) @Susan, I miss him as well. Can you imagine him and Max now? wow. @Amy, thank you for that. Nice of you to say and he was a class act. +m2
about an hour ago · Like

Valerie Davis-Smith Wow, that is awsome. He also was a great teacher and coach who impacted my life.
25 minutes ago · Like

Just had to share this with you. I miss my dad and wish you could have known him. (Wow, where did those tears come from?) He would have loved to play with you, toss you in the air like I do, and hug you. You have a lot of him in you already.

With Love,

Max's Dad (Michael)

The Hard Part about Parenting...

Hi Max!

I learned something today...

You know what is interesting about parenting and the growth of your child? Sometimes you feel like you are helping and you are really hurting and sometimes you feel like you are hurting and you are really helping. =0)

Love you!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. We're tracking Santa tonight at www.NORADSanta.org!

Your first recital...

Hi Max!

Your first recital was last night. Yes, you are 2 years old (and call tell me so!). It was an interesting night. Two of your parents' weaknesses came to a head last night. They combined to take away from your experience. I'm not sure if many parents would think about it, but of course, I think about everything. What most would see is a little boy (taller than anyone else in the class) who was uncomfortable, crying, and perhaps a case of stage fright from being in front of a large audience. Here's what really happened and I bet a lot of parents can relate...

We are to be at the Community Center at 6:40 p.m. Mom who enjoys a busy schedule manages to get home to order pizza to get there early at 6:00, but in the meantime has to get a Webinar e-mailed to me while I wait in the office (with high-speed Internet access) to send it out to our BOOSTers (clients). The first effort blows up because these are huge files. The video editor had tried to compress the video and it did not turn out well. I needed the original. She uses the service to send over the larger file. I waited...

Mom also had to get you dressed and ready in your nice clothes. I waited until 6:00 and at that point, it was time to go. No file and wouldn't have time to forward. I get caught in rush hour traffic and a 20-minute drive now takes 30 minutes. I get to the house at the same time as the pizza. We eat quickly and make it out of the house at 6:45 (we are five minutes late). We arrive at 7:00 - time for the event to start. I need to be more conscious of time. If we get there early, you are comfortable and relaxed and have had time to separate yourself from mom a little bit. You would have had a chance to get used to being with Finley, Brenna and the rest of your class. Instead, we rushed in, put you in front of all the people, and you blew up. It was almost embarrassing (if I got embarrassed :).

You immediately started looking for mommy and once finding her, you did what gets her attention most. You whined. Then she made a look as if, "oh, so cute, he needs me." Then it was all she wrote. You went ballistic. I picked you up but there was one and only one thing you were looking for at that point - the caressing, motherly mom. The sympathetic looks followed as mom held you.

I wonder what it might have been like. Let's say, we get there early (I vow to have you EARLY to every event from now on). I take you in and get you with the class. Mom stays behind so you don't have that "crutch". You get comfortable with your class. Mom sneaks in late to watch. You belt out Jingle Bells. The crowd applauds. You love it, ham it up, and smile. We all get cookies afterwards and you sit on Santa's lap - comfortable, smiling, and fun-loving.

Lesson learned. Be on time. Have a plan to maximize YOUR experience. Please forgive us. We are new at this parenting experience. It was our first recital. We messed up, but we'll do better. Mom will work on helping you become more independent. I will be more time-conscious and punctual. Thank you for helping us improve.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

The Rear-view Mirror and the Windshield...

Hi Max!

As you drive today, please realize there is a very important metaphor right in front of you. Your future is so much bigger than your past and all you need for proof is that every car is made with the windshield 100 times bigger than the rear-view mirror. You should keep your eye on the future with a few glances to the past, not the other way around. Have a great day everyone! +m2
9 hours ago · Like · Comment · Promote
Connie Deter Webb, Errol Wuertz and 9 others like this.
Peggy Pierce I like this....I am going to share it..
8 hours ago · Like ·
The Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals Share away! :) +m2
5 hours ago · Like
Kelli Reynolds Pearls of wisdom - Thank you!
5 hours ago · Like ·
Heidi Highe Absolutely AWESOME!!!! thank s;0)
2 hours ago · Like ·

Kelli Reynolds Michael - You had a post recently that was so great - I have lost it :( Can you please repost or send it to me by email here? It was about the windshield being bigger than the rear view mirror. Loved it and I can't quite quote it. Thanks for ALL you do - you keep me entertained and EDUCATED!

Max, wanted to share this great metaphor with you. It is a constant reminder that we need to be focused on the future rather than the past. Check it, learn from it, and keep it in perspective, but don't dwell on it. Focus on what's in front of you. Check your settings - your speedometer, odometer, and gas. That is your present - do you need to speed up or slow down, perhaps your engine is running hot and you need to gear down, and everyone has to stop occasionally to re-charge the battery and get re-fueled. Your windshield is your future - stay future-focused.

As the road lays out in front of you, stay awake and aware, check your GPS occasionally to make sure you are on the right road, and keep your eyes on the road - not the obstacles. Every once in a while, stop to get some help and education - don't be afraid to Windex the window and ask for directions. Daily affirmations and visualization are the Rain-X for your windshield so practice those. Of course, there will be bugs who try to stop you, but they will be smashed as long as you keep your momentum. And remember, don't drink and drive, text and drive, or phone and drive (without hands-free).

Of course, save that shotgun spot for someone special. :) Someone who will help you view the road through the windshield and help guide you. That person will support you and be able to communicate with you throughout your drive. Sometimes you'll even be able to stop and fog the windows. Life is good. :)

Love you son. You are growing so quickly!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Planning Time: Doing Things Differently...

Hi Max!

Here's a story with a point that I thought you would eventually appreciate (once you're older :)

Doing Things Differently

By: Michael J. Maher

Before going to Europe on business, a man drives his Rolls-Royce to a downtown New York City bank and asks for an immediate loan of $5,000. The loan officer, taken aback, requests collateral. "Well then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce," the man says. The loan officer promptly has the car driven into the bank's underground parking for safe keeping and gives the man the $5,000.

Two weeks later, the man walks through the bank's doors and asks to settle up his loan and get his car back. "That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest," the loan officer says. The man writes out a check and starts to walk away.

"Wait, sir," the loan officer says. "You are a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?" The man smiles, "Where else could I find a safer place to park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?" :)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. Max, just wanted you to see that there are different, creative ways to do things. I love you son! :)

Sunday is Son-Day October 3 2010...

Hi Max!

Boy, I have been delinquent in my posts. Something I have noticed is that the more I can talk to, interact with, and goof off with you, the less I post on here. I will set up a standard time to post. It may not be every week, but I need to post more often.

You are a routine-lover like your father: Some highlights are that you have a sandbox now so you can play in what you call "Max's Dirt". Every day, it is "Max's Dirt? Max's Dirt? Max's Dirt?" :) You love to play in the dirt and in the sandbox. Also, you are in the rhythm of "Cars". Every day, you watch Cars, the movie. You know all the characters - Lightning, Chick, Doc, King, Luigi, Guido, Sally, etc.

You are so smart! The teachers at La Petite comment all the time how you pick up on things so quickly. They have had you hanging out in the 2-year-old room for a couple of months. According to the teachers, you have been holding your own. You are now speaking in sentences your mom and I can understand and converse back to you. Still need to get you working better with a fork and start your potty training.

Today, we are hanging out. Guess what? You've watched Cars. You've played a little in "Max's Dirt". You've eaten lunch exactly the same time as you always do. You've taken your nap at exactly the same time. The schedule works. You are so happy when you are on schedule. Why don't adults time block? When everyone is on time, on pace, and expectations are known, things run so much smoother.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. I love you!

Sunday is Son-Day August 22...

Hi Max!

Let's Play Ball!

Sunday is Son-Day for August 22 was exciting for me (probably more exciting for me than you). For the first time, you were going to see ME play ball. Softball is a love of mine and I've always looked forward to the day when my kid could watch me play ball. And the Sunday league games were normally at 9 and 10 - way after your bed time. But the make up games for Sunday were at 2 and 3. Perfect - and the weather was pretty nice. Warm, but not unbearable. It was great seeing you at the ballpark. At less than 2, you probably didn't get much out of it - BUT I did hear you yell Good Job Daddy! That made me smile after hitting a double against the fence. It was like you understood - and maybe at a deep level you do. :)

Love you son and cannot wait to watch you play ball - and it will happen soon.

To Your Success,

Michael