Fatherhood

Off on a sidebar... I posted this without text today... Pretty neat of me huh?

I love being a father. My two little kids are growing so fast. Michael is going to be a little man before I know it, and Gabby is getting more and more beautiful by the day... Where has the time gone?

I think that my biggest concern is that some of the best friends I have ever had are missing them growing up. I am wondering though, which is more important? Having my family see my kids grow up, or having my good friends miss them growing up. You would think with technology the way it is that it would be possible for both to watch them grow up...

I am just wondering though... How much do you share via technology to allow your friends the opportunity to watch your kids grow? My daddy instinct says as little as necessary... My pride says share everything because nothing will happen to you.... Dilemmas... if this is the worst one I face for the next week I really am sitting pretty...

Prayers...

Pisio

Monkey See, Monkey Do

At 2o months old, Mikey is beginning to imitate us at every turn. He is opening up our cell phones and saying hello, babbling in "Mikey Speak" and then saying "Okay, buh bye", ""Di Doo (Thank you), buh bye" or "Lah Yoo, buh bye" and then he "hangs up. It is absolutely amazing and hilarious to watch.

He can now pull himself into mommy's computer chair. He will sit there for hours on end, like mommy, just rolling the mouse around and clicking on things. He will then turn around and yell something at mommy and daddy. Absolutely amazing and hilarious to watch.

He is saying "itchy" and "bobble" and today, I think I even heard "medicine". Sure it came out more like "mesacin", but considering it was right after giving him Benadryl for his "itchy" I think that he knew what he was saying. How fast he is growing up... I am beginning to think that I need to slow down and just appreciate this time of first with our son. Yet, as he gets older, we just seem to get busier. I need Mike to come back so that I can slow down again...

Happy belated Father's Day... especially to Rod. You have been a mentor and guide not only to me, but to many young men. We are all blessed to have you as an example and mentor.

Prayers,

Pisio

Parenting

Teenagers, God's little reminder of what it is like to have someone made in your image who denies your existence and does not want to talk to you...

I heard that and I almost choked. It is so true. And you know what? In my humble opinion it is the parent's fault that their kids turn into such little shitheads. I see it all the time, and one thing holds true 96% of the time... The closer your relationship to God is as a parent, the better your kids are going to turn out.

I see it all the time... there are parents out there who literally abuse their kids and get away with it. This is not a physical abuse in the traditional sense, and most people will never recognize it. Parents keep their kids so busy that they do not even have time to sit and eat together once a day. They spend their time running their kids from one event to another never allowing their kids to breath... or rest for that matter. It is abuse... physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual.

Generally the type of parents described above have kids that turn out to be total shitheads. They are not bad kids, they just direct their anger at everyone and anyone who is not their peer. Any adult authority figure is ridiculed and disrespected. Anything that their parents want them to do is looked at as a burden, and they lash out at everything... Their kids may succeed socially and financially, but they are spiritually bankrupt. It is really sad how their parents have screwed them up so bad.

Then their are the parents who pray together with their kids... and well... act like parents. They set realistic boundaries and limits on what their kids can do. They do not allow the child to quit half way through something... You sign up for it, you finish it. They support their kids, and want them then to succeed, but they also know their roles as parents.

Recently I was told by a parent of a teen in the Confirmation program I run that one day I would understand how Church would not be a priority.... Well... I wanted to vomit, and had to hold it back, and I wanted to slap her. How can you make Christianity and enhancement to your life, and not your way of life? Modern Christians have screwed up what it means to be Christian, and the Faith is now a lifestyle enhancement, not a lifestyle. God has become a big candy dispenser in the sky.

Oh well... I can call them out on things all that I want, but the fact is the choice is up to them. As long as I know that I am being faithful to what He is calling me to, I have nothing else to worry about. I pray that I will not be one of the parents that screws their kids up so badly that God is an enhancement... I also resent someone saying that I will understand allowing their faith life and spiritual growth to take a back seat to soccer, or volleyball or any other social event. Christianity is a lifestyle, not a social club...

Prayers,

Pisio

Ministry with Teens

I have never known anything as rewarding as the work that I do with teenagers. I am thankful that Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to pass on the Faith to the coming generation. I have to tell you though it is the most taxing career choice I think that I could have made. I love what I do, but man am I tired...

Tonight I had a night with my peer ministry where we played a game called Curses. I am convinced that this is a game straight from hell, so it is perfect to play at a Church meeting. Actually, it is a lot of fun, and allows you opportunity to break down the walls that keep you from opening up in groups. It also allows me to see the strengths and weaknesses of the teenagers that I look to as leaders. 

Being an introvert, I have to be alone at times to recharge... so to speak. Tonight is one of those nights where I am glad that I married Jonah. She understands that sometimes I just need my space. We are able to be in the same room together and know that we are supporting each other, yet not in each other's space. Does that even make any sense?

So... In  three weeks we have our Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser, the following weekend is a Junior High Retreat, then we have Easter and three weeks later our Confirmation Retreat. It all ends on May 2nd after the Celebration of the Rite of Confirmation. Or does it just begin? That is really the question... 

I am one of the few youth ministers in the Diocese who chooses to do a round the year ministry. It is really silly to me to take the summers off, as that is when those we minister to have the most free time, yet most of my counterparts here in the Diocese do just that. I just do not see how they can ever make inroads in to the teenage culture. That is something that in my experience takes around the calendar consistency and quality.

Time will tell I guess...

Any way... It is going to be a busy few months. I pray that He will give me the strength to make it through these busy times... and that my wife knows despite my desire to be alone... how much I love her...

Happy SAINT Valentine's Day

Prayers,

Pisio

Fatherhood

I love being a father. I am not sure how people can deprive themselves of this incredible joy. It is so amazing to think that I played a small part in creating this beautiful little boy.  I guess that some people just know that parenting is not for them, and that is a good thing; I have respect for them.

 

However there is a group of males out there that I have no respect for... the sperm donors... Not the kind that go to the sperm bank, those who conceive a child with a woman, and then leave her to play both mother and father to the child. This is never how God intended things to do. God intended for us to be a family, reflecting the love that is the relationship of the Trinity. 

I am so thankful that God blessed me with the family He did. My mother and father showed my brother, sister and I what it was to be a family. Things were not perfect, but my dad loved and supported my mom and was the guardian of the family that God intended him to be. What an amazing example to have as a young man growing up. I hope that I am half the father he was. 

I realize that some of us were never that lucky. Fathers may have been alcoholics, or  abusive to their children, or their wives. Why? Why is it that men have forgotten their role as protectors and providers for their families? I really wish I could answer that... If I could think up a way to stop it all together I could become a very rich man. 

I guess that we should really not be surprised at the lack of responsibility shown as men, for our families and especially the women who are our companions... After all our original father, Adam, failed miserably at his role as protector of the family. Due to his lack of attention to his mission as guardian and provider the serpent was able to get close enough to tempt Eve. Had Adam been doing his job, the serpent would have been dead long before ever getting near his wife... 

Women... especially single women... I feel a little bit of pity for you... Working with young men, I see the choices you have as potential husbands and fathers, and I have to just shake my head... Where have all the good men gone? They have not been taught how to be men, and respect women... Perhaps the saddest part is women have come to expect that and they do not demand the respect that they truly deserve... You are worth it, despite what you may be told by your peers and the media... You deserve to be treated better.  If the guy is not going to treat you the way you want to be treated... he is not worth your time...

Somehow we went from fatherhood to here... Interesting... I love the way blogging just allows me to ramble and rant... Good Luck, and Good Night...

Prayers...

Pisio