Like many others who seek to be informed, I have watched parts of both the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer. While I know the conventions are productions designed to convince viewers to vote one way, full of bright lights, flashy videos, loud music and good-looking popular celebrities; this week as I watched the…
I sat at my computer after the assassination attempt on former President Trump. On the same night, there were two shooting incidents in Alabama. People died in both cases. I felt a need to write to dads, but I wondered what to write. There was clearly the subject of gun violence and the discussion around…
Like some 50 million other Americans, I watched the recent Presidential debate. In the days that have followed, people have asked me my opinion about the event. Scores of others including professional pundits and commentators have expressed their opinions. Some have provided analysis. Some have predicted the outcome of the election already based on this…
I am not an artist. I do not have a significant knowledge of art or its history. So, when we visited the North Carolina Museum of Art, I thought maybe I would just enjoy the “view”. While I certainly enjoyed the exhibits for their beauty, I was enlightened by the stories they told. The museum…
This month I had the opportunity to attend the high school graduation of my nephew. The son of my younger brother and the youngest grandchild of my parents. We travelled out of state to gather with family to show our support and recognize that our presence is the most important gift we can give. As…
Be a beacon of serenity, courage and wisdom for the world to see. Look for the rainbow.
This week I thought about some dads who are challenged to stay engaged with their children. I thought about dads experiencing Prom night, driving lessons, moving to middle school and high school next fall and sending their kids away to camps this summer. I am reminded of my thoughts in Be There Dad about our…
In the past few weeks many of us have been entertained by some excellent golf including The Masters and the RBC Heritage. When I watch, I am most impressed by the way the accomplished golfers “manage” the golf course. Collaborating with their caddies they have a vision and strategy for navigating each hole. Begin with…
A long-time Be There Dad shared with me a quote attributed to Muhammed Ali. It says, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” An extension of “Love your neighbor,” it provides a framework for our obligations as dads. We are all called to serve each other. So, I…
This year most of us are watching intently as politicians seek election to office. Adults have the privilege of choosing who will represent us in places like Washington, DC and Raleigh, so now is a unique time to teach our children. In our democracy that privilege of voting and making other decisions assumes that people…