Fatherhood Remixed

Scheduling is important

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Workshop Joe

I’ve never been real good at keeping a schedule. Now let me clarify for a moment. That doesn’t mean I’m not on time it just means that I don’t keep a schedule. When I think of a schedule I think of some sort of planner with every minute of my day mapped out. To me that suffocating. I keep track of the stuff I have to do like work, a doctor visit or a kids game. That’s easy. It’s important. It’s the other time that I don’t plan for. I sort of just let it happen.

What I’m finding is that time is either spent or lost. Well, maybe it’s just always spent. Sometimes on something worthwhile and other times on nothing. Time is my greatest asset right now. I have just as much as everyone else. That’s a crazy concept right? Bill Gates may have more money but you have the same 24 hours in the day. What you choose to spend those 24 hours is probably a bigger difference maker than the money you don’t have.

In fact I would go so far as to say that if you invest your time in something or someone you’ll have some sort of return. Actually, I guarantee it. If you pick any pursuit or idea and invest time in it you will see a return. I don’t know how big that return will be and I suppose that depends on how efficient you are with that investment.

Push to start

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Workshop Joe

Seems like a lot of new cars have push to start now. You don’t even have to take the key out of your pocket. You just hop in and push the button and you’re on your way. It’s cool. It’s novel. It’s a sign of class and refinement. It’s also easy. If you’ve ever ridden a dirt bike you’ll know you don’t always get push to start. In fact, more often than not it’s kick start.

Kick starting a dirt bike is not always easy but it can be. If your bike is well cared for with fresh spark plugs, good gas and oiled with care then it shouldn’t be too bad. Even with all the proper steps starting a cold bike, especially on a cold day, can be tough. Several kicks might be needed. Open the choke, give it a little gas but not too much. Older bikes can be even harder especially if it’s been a long time since they ran.

With every kick you can hear the motor trying to ignite itself. With every kick you create activity that can lead to combustion. The sound changes as you get closer and you might even get a sputter before the last kick that gets everything going. The sound of the exhaust and the puff of smoke that erupts from the tail pipe are like magic. As the idle of the motor settles down you are ready for your next journey.

Am I a good provider

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Workshop Joe

“We have to wait on them to fix everything and everyday they feel like they are failing us.” – Lucille Gould (Cinderella Man)

I wish I could give my wife everything her heart desired. I wish there were no limits to what I could provide but there are. I think this is something that is common to all men. Deep within us is a drive to be the hero to our families. We want to save the day and be there to deliver them from disappointment, fear or pain. If we aren’t able to do this in some capacity, real or perceived, we feel useless. It’s a blessing and a curse but something that will always hang over our head.

I clearly remember staring into my wife’s eyes on our wedding day as we stood holding hands about to jump into the uncertain void of adulthood. I was 20 years old and had ignored the half hearted attempts by my parents requesting that we wait. I had a confidence that I would be able to meet any and every want and desire my wife could ever come up with. Her eyes looked back into mine without a shimmer of doubt that I was going to be someone she could place her full faith in.

A father on Father’s Day.

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Workshop Joe

I slept in pretty late. I was exhausted. I had been out driving for Uber till around 3am and barely made it home. This was probably the closest I came to falling asleep at the wheel on my way home but that’s another story. As I lay in bed, somewhere between slumber and being awake, I can hear my kids playing in the front room. It’s Father’s Day and I’m thankful they let me sleep in.

They eventually made their way into the bedroom asking for me to get cereal for them for breakfast. We usually have cereal Saturdays but we were busy and had to postpone. They brought me a card they had put together. My wife had helped them make it complete with the purple and gold of the Lakers. They thanked me for loving them and for working hard to provide for them.

Distractions

Posted on June 16, 2017 by Workshop Joe

Sometimes there isn’t even a notification. I’ll check my phone, swearing I heard or felt an alert and there is nothing there. As if that wasn’t bad enough I work at a computer all day with the freedom to have multiple windows open. A few of those windows are always Facebook and Twitter. I see the indicators that there is a message and I’m compelled to click or I might miss something.

I was a very early adopter to digital media. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and I loved to be in the know. At one point, when Blackberries were still cool, you could reach me a million different ways. I had BBM, Twitter, Email (several accounts), SMS, Facebook and of course you could call. I had custom alerts for each one so I knew what I got without even looking.

Today I’m so connected that I’m constantly being interrupted. The problem is I don’t see them as interruptions. I see these alerts as fuel for my creativity. I see new ideas, posts or thoughts and it sets me off into my own rabbit hole. Just as I’m getting ready to really dive in there I get another alert, another idea and another rabbit hole. I’ve dug so many but none are very deep.