Happy Birthday! Oh wait!
It is not your birthday or mine (yet). It is my daughter’s birthday weekend and as I watched her open her presents and blow out her candles I was a little nervous about the Pinterest recipe for a homemade owl cake I’d prepared for her party. To hear the appreciation for this hideous (to me at least) birthday cake was music to my ears.
And there it was. I realized what she exudes.
She was grateful for her cake, because she got a cake. She was grateful for all the gifts she had received; loved the cake because I made it and because I created the design.
Somewhere along the way, I taught her to be grateful. That makes me a proud mother! So I got to thinking… what life lessons our guys have taught their children that was lasting and important. Here’s what they said:
DAVE MANOUCHERI
I’ve always told my kids we’re stronger together than when we’re apart. That isn’t proximity it’s philosophy. We are a united front and nothing can stop us. But I tell them all – the girls in particular – that you can do anything you set your mind to. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, don’t let someone say you can’t just because you’re a girl. I know all four kids are smart, funny and imaginative. It’s a good combination. If they ever need anything, one or all of us will be there.
Read more: Our Story Begins: When The Story Begins Again..
MARK ANDROVICH
You live in an affluent area of a country with great opportunity, and can learn to do almost anything in life. But you can’t be taught to be passionate– you either feel it or you don’t. Being employed doing something you are passionate about is always worth more than the money. And if you can also do something that benefits others, that’s even better, because it isn’t all about you.
Read more: Ask The Good Enough Guy: My Job Is KILLING Me!
BENNETT CUNNINGHAM
Life is about people helping people, imparted to me by my dad when I was 15 and it has served me well in my journey of life.
Read more: Breaking The Adult Rules: Lessons I Learned From A Trip With My Son
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It really is great when we see our children becoming the people we want them to be using the life lessons we preach over and over and over again. Birthdays are for the kids, but it was great to know that all that labor (of love) all those years ago is still paying off.
More from GEM:
Is “Until Death” Too Long To Be Married?
Ask The Good Enough Guys: Porn Problem! Did Dad Handle This The Right Way?
The GEM Debate: Could You Handle An Open Marriage?
Sang Thi Duong is currently running her digital copy business full-time as well as loving life. She is the founder of Sangtastik, where she creates killer web copy for businesses who like a little pizazz, manages social media accounts, and teaches youth entrepreneurship. Sang is the mother of two, significant other to her King, sister to the best RN ever and sister to the most country redneck ever! When Sang is not networking, writing, or reading, she can be found taking time to breathe and living life….and shopping for heels while sipping on some Starbucks! Follow her on Twitter @MsSangD.
