“I can’t help but feel a bit envious whenever I see Mr. Carlo (that’s me) cuddling and playfully interacting with Happy (that’s the nickname of my son, James, age 8). My dad never did that with me.”
There was another time several years ago, where I volunteered to do this very embarrassing group dancing thing with my daughter. Even though I wanted to crawl under a rock, we had a blast together. The next day, another boy went up to me and said that his dad would never do anything like that with him or any of his siblings.
Both instances were both flattering and sad at the same time. Here are these two young people, teenagers, quickly growing into men yet never really feeling love from their father, a love they desperately need. It’s one of the reasons why I blog, as I feel that we, Filipino fathers (and that includes me) have some ample room for improvement in the fathering department.
Speaking about my blog, much of what I share here is based off of the wisdom of one fantastic father, Dr. Peter Tanchi. To say that he’s an inspiration to me in an understatement; and he’s an incredible speaker, especially when you see him live. Well, In about a month’s time, you’ll indeed get to see him live. Better yet, you’ll get an especially rare treat in seeing Dr. Tanchi back to back with probably the best motivational speaker in the Philippines, lauded author, TV personality, and businessman Mr. Francis J Kong.
On September 7, 2013, Cagayan de Oro moms and dads (of teenagers, specifically) will surely be incredibly blessed when Mr. Francis J. Kong and Dr. Peter Tanchi give a talk called ParenTEEN. Learn from these two speakers as they share their experiences in excellently fathering their children through adolescence while balancing great responsibilities outside the home.
Surely this is a topic quite close to my heart, as I surely struggle with parenting well. I often feel like I fail more than I succeed, so I would SO like to be in attendance. I think you should come too. For only a ridiculously cheap fee of P150.00 you get to see the two greatest parenting speakers in the Philippines guide you through the toughest period in parenting. I am so there.
Again, you should come too. I think DADS in particular should drop everything and attend. If you’re a mom, and the father of your children is like the fathers my students described, then shake the heavens and the earth to get him to attend this. Few things are as devastating as faulty fathering (as a teacher for the past 8 years, I should know). I’ll put the details below, just so it’s simple.
Date: September 7, 2013
Venue: The Atrium, Limketkai mall, Cagayan de Oro City
Time: 2-6pm
Fee: P150.00
If you have teens, invite them to go to iCHANGE, which will be happening on that morning. Our adolescents today SO need wisdom and guidance, and nobody gives these better than the two men I mentioned…and for only P80.00 too! What a steal!
I'll be attending both, as the whole high school community will go to iCHANGE, and then my wife and I will go to ParenTEEN. See you there!!
Recommended reading (sorry, I have a bias towards books for dads. All books except the first one are dad-specific):
- Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens
- The 21-Day Dad's Challenge: Three Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Kids
- Better Dads, Stronger Sons: How Fathers Can Guide Boys to Become Men of Character
- Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know
(This blog site, Lessons Of A Dad is mostly about parenting, marriage, and other topics aimed to develop the reader’s mind, body, and soul. I’d consider it an honor if you’d follow or subscribe to this site. You can also go to my Facebook page here, and I’m also on Twitter at @lessonsofadad)
