In his Inaugural Address in 1989, President George H.W. Bush said, “America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the Nation and gentler the face of the world.” Previously, Bush had famously called…
I have been thinking a lot about the values we need to pass on to our children. How we fill their back packs. Recently, I have written about the need to teach hard work, discipline, civility, kindness and perseverance. I have written about dads making themselves available for conversation with their kids. I have written…
Prom Night? When we first began Be There Dad we talked about how and from whom our children would get their life lessons and advice. Most dads readily agreed that there were lots of potential sources. Our kids listened to other kids on the playground. Kids on the school bus. In the locker room. Late…
This month, once again I saw signs that renewed my optimism about the future of our community and restored my confidence that a new season is coming. Spring Practice During the past few weeks some middle schools have engaged students in their first spring practices. Eighth grade. A time of learning, growing, just beginning to…
In the Beginning When I started my Be There Dad journey, my kids were young, so I was seeking to understand how I could personally be the best dad possible. In my pursuit of an answer, I eventually focused on my own dad. It seemed that my brothers and I had turned out well as…
An Oscar Winning Film At the Academy Awards last week, a documentary entitled All the Empty Rooms won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film. The film was prompted by an idea from Steve Hartman a well-known journalist from CBS. For years Steve has been the correspondent who regularly brings “feel good” stories to the…
When I was a freshman in college, full of optimism, I hung a copy of Desiderata above my dorm room bed and read it regularly. In a period when I was trying to chart a course for my future, the poem seemed to provide a vision as well as guardrails for how my life might…
Last week, like many of you, I witnessed two prominent news events. On the same day, we celebrated the holiday dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Indiana University won the College Football National Championship. I saw common themes in both. Building a Team For years when I stepped on a basketball court, my primary…
Our readers know, from our beginning, Be There Dad has used the phrase “the power of presence”. That idea has been the lifeblood of our ministry. As direction for our objectives, we believe, “when dads are present in the lives of their children, good things happen” . Nearly every communication we have made over the…
During the Christmas holiday break, we attended our annual family movie. This year we saw the recent release of Wicked For Good. Appreciating the Lessons Whether intended as a learning experience or not, as I watched through the eyes of Coach Jeff, I witnessed another portrayal of lessons that we should pass on to our…