WE NEED MORE ABSENT PARENTS??

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One of my good redneck buddies was telling me a RIDICULOUS story about his childhood this week, and the story goes a lil something like this…

His name is Darin, I call him Big D, and he grew up under the Friday Night Lights of Deer Creek, Oklahoma.

He started playing football when he was just a young whipper snapper.

And let me just say that Big D was a committed, “all in”, do whatever it takes to get better at football kind of a kid.

As a matter of fact,  if you were going to play Jr. High Football for the Deer Creek Antlers,  practice started at 7:00 AM.  That’s right, before school even started.

But Big D had a dilemma!!

If he took the bus to school he wouldn’t get to practice until 7:30AM.

If he rode with his dad, he would have to get there at 5:00AM because his dad worked the early shift.

So what did Mr. Big D do?

He…

Unlike “some” lazy, wimpy, uncommitted, spoiled, selfish American kiddos chose the 5:00AM route!!

Yep!  Big D was up a 4:30AM.

His dad dropped him off at a convenience store next to the school at 5:00AM.

Darin would sit in the local “Shop & Lift” from 5AM to 6:30AM eating breakfast, playing Gallaga and doing homework.

At 6:30 the coaches would show up.

D would be dressed, on the field and working out before any other kids would get there.

You gotta love the work hard, strap a set on, get it done mindset that Darin brought as a young man.

Honestly, if this scenario occurred today most parents (including myself) would adjust, bend over backward, give into their son’s constant complaining, show up late to work, pay a driver or possibly make their son quit football.

Big D is a great success today, first and foremost because he is a man that walks with God.  Secondly Big D is a success today because his dad was absent much of the time.

His fathers’ absence forced Darin to become…

• An independent thinker
• Self-reliant
• A self starter
• Content with little
• A make it happen kind of a kid

So let me be the first to say that I am absolutely disgusted by the lack of presence, spiritual leadership and guidance from fathers today.

However…

I am starting to believe that too much of my presence will dwarf, handicap, spoil and thwart my kiddos maturity and self leadership.

So what do you think?  Should you become LESS PRESENT in your kids’ lives?

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