The occasion of Father's Day got me to thinking about all the things I learned from my Dad. He used to take my four siblings and me camping, and on those trips he taught us to recognize many of the constellations in the sky, how to use a compass, how to bait a hook and remove a fish from the line, how to cook over an open fire, and even how to start a fire.
Dad also taught me how to sail on a 16-foot MC scow that he kept on one of the city lakes. I learned how to rig the boat, and to work the tiller and main sheet; he taught me to read the wind and surface of the water. Sailing offered bigger life lessons. For example, in sailing if you want to go to Point A from Point B, you sometimes have to sail toward Point C for a while, depending on the wind. I know now that when you want something in life, sometimes you have to go in a seemingly divergent direction for a while to get it.
My Dad managed an apartment complex and while I was in college, he had me painting those buildings. My Dad was a good painter and he taught me now to do it -- prepare the surface well before applying any paint, pour the paint into a smaller container so that if you spill you don't lose the entire gallon of paint, and always secure your extension ladder at the top to the building so the wind doesn't blow you over. I actually liked painting, and after I was done working on his projects I started painting other buildings and made pretty good money.
I didn't realize it at the time, but Dad was teaching me a trade. The money I earned paid for a good portion of my college tuition, but if I couldn't find a job in my field of study, I always knew I could make a living painting, based on what my Dad taught me.
One of the most important things a father can do for his children is teach them a useful skill. A father should teach his kids something they can use in the work world to make a living. This is a very important way that a father provides for his kids; with this kind of lesson, the provision goes on long after the father may be gone. Joseph is our model. He taught Jesus to be a carpenter.
It is not always easy to teach our children, especially as they enter adulthood, but we can begin in simple ways. A good start is to make sure your children know what you do. If you go off to work everyday, share that work experience with your kids. Make sure they know where you work and what you do. Invite them to work with you; show them around your workplace and introduce them to your colleagues and boss.
Parents also need to teach their children the basics of workplace etiquette. Parents should teach kids about punctuality, about the importance for working hard, about team work, appropriate dress, good phone manner, and about respecting others. These basics will give a new employee an edge at any place of employment.
And kids need to learn from their parents that money is to be earned, not given to you. Wise people save for things before they buy them. Credit is a useful tool, but it should be used wisely. Parents should explain how interest works -- both as an incentive for them to save and as an incentive for them to avoid debt.
Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility. As fathers, we want to prepare our children to go out into the world, live independently, and contribute to the greater good. It is a lot to expect of our kids -- too much to expect without a lot of help from dad and mom.
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