My Husband Doesn't Read My Blog... A Father's Day Poem

Noble capturer of spiders, to set them free outside.

He taught our children:

            All things most likely can be repaired or repurposed.

            To follow their heart’s desire.

            That no job is too big or too small – if it needs to be done, do it.

How to change the oil in a car or at the very least the importance of taking it to a shop for the oil change per the car manual’s recommendations.

That math can be fun.

That math is useful.

That everyone needs tools!

            A tool exists for almost every job to be done.

            That bugs and animals are important to the world.

            To ask for help when they need it.

            There are consequences for their choices and actions. Good and not so good.

            To engage in volunteer work.

            To help clean up at the end of an event.

How to make baklava.

Our adult children may or may not remember:

            He went to every soccer game and school function (that he knew about).

            Read to them until he fell asleep.

            Made sure they always had books from the library to read.

            Cooked healthy meals.

            Fixed their broken toys.

            Taught them how to fix something.

            Showed them how to take things apart to understand how they worked.

            Worked longer hours to help pay for their education.

            Took them camping and hiking so they could appreciate the outdoors.

            Frequent trips to Cache Creek to explore the banks and water’s edge.

            Trips to the ocean.

Always made sure that the “picky eaters” had at least one or two healthy options on the dinner table.

Let them dig in the yard to their heart’s content.

Provided opportunities for them to earn money when they wanted pocket money.

Gentle teacher of the children, to set them free outside.