Look out world.

[chasea]

My favorite aunt adopted him when I was 12. She is a single mother, so my brother and I share the male-figure role in his life. I remember how bad it stung the first time he noticed I'd said a swear word. Shared a beer with him when he wasn't legal, because I knew he was doing it anyway; I did. Let him taste whiskey, so I knew he'd stay away from it- for now. I still get the same combination of a father's horror and pride when I think about the time he bragged about his first HJ ("She was fat, but her hand wasn't).

Let him hold a gun. Snuck him into a bar to see his first punk show (daytime, so not too rowdy). Gave him advice on school, girls, his mother. How to dress. How to shave. How a responsible adult should behave.

He asks me about bands that I like. He tells me about the books he's enjoying.

He just finished his freshman year of college and I couldn't be prouder.

Saw this photo today and realized that the kid actually listens to what I say. A scary notion.
I gotta hand it to you fathers. I'm not sure I have the stomach for it- the real thing at least.
If the world ended today, it would be too soon.

[Too Tall]

Way cool Chase. Go to heaven twice.

[BestDeathEver]

Chase as a role model, huh? As your friend I'll say that he could've gotten stuck with a lot worse.

[chasea]

As your friend I'll say that he could've gotten stuck with a lot worse.

You're just saying that because you need a couch to crash on.

[Nierman]

Easy to become a father but parenting is the part that takes tact & skill & a little luck. Sounds like you got a pretty cool grip on the parenting part should you have your own one day.

Had one of those "learned it by watching you, Dad" moments just yesterday while riding w/my 5yr old boy (he's just been up on 2 wheels for about a week). I swerve out of my way to blast through a puddle and he apes every move. We enjoyed our moment but I got to make sure when we're in the street like that he doesn't eye a puddle on the opposite side of the road and go for it. Curb drops are next weekend's curriculum.

[BestDeathEver]

You're just saying that because you need a couch to crash on.

Have you not seen mybadparent.com? AllI'msayin.

[davids]

Nice job, dude. You'll be ready for your own. Besides, I think 2/3 of the job is just showing up. Dinner every night, breakfast in the morning and the carpool lane go a long way. The important stuff happens when you least expect it, and it happens all the time.

The trip from this:



to this:



is really short and, as banal as it is to say it, it's the best thing ever. Every time.

[caleb]

I think you should team up with Mainemike, Mickey, DarrenCT, and Disturbed to start a finishing school for up-and-coming men of the world. Check with Dartmouth - they might be willing to work it into their core curriculum.

[chasea]

Nevermind. I'm gonna friggin' kill 'im.

[prcrstn8]

2/3 of the job is just showing up

Absolutely true. There is no such thing as "spending quality time," there's only "time" and either you're there for it or you're not.

"Just showing up" is how I changed my son's fallen-between-the-cracks-of-separated-parents lifestyle that evolved out of living with his, er, other parent. I showed up every Sunday, got him off to school when he was with me the start of every week, showed up at his mom's door to motivate him out that door practically every day that he wasn't with me. It took 3 years of this for his school attendance to improve, and his grades went up too. He told me recently he wants to keep the same schedule next school year. It was worth it.

[Shoogs]

Absolutely true. There is no such thing as "spending quality time," there's only "time" and either you're there for it or you're not.

"Just showing up" is how I changed my son's fallen-between-the-cracks-of-separated-parents lifestyle that evolved out of living with his, er, other parent. I showed up every Sunday, got him off to school when he was with me the start of every week, showed up at his mom's door to motivate him out that door practically every day that he wasn't with me. It took 3 years of this for his school attendance to improve, and his grades went up too. He told me recently he wants to keep the same schedule next school year. It was worth it.

I could read ish like this everyday. Good on ya...