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Hey Dad,

This side of Memorial Day, there are three whole months of dad–opportunities stretching before us. Look at all these things just waiting on us to make happen: bike rides, lightning bug safaris, vacations, baseball games, lemonade stands, garage sales, and ice cream trucks.

The things is, you gotta have a plan. Otherwise, the next three months will zip by, leaving you with your mouth hanging open and egg on your face. You know what that's like … remember those promises you made last year to the kids?

You said, "Yeah, we'll do 'that' this summer … it sure is going to be fun."

Then, you forgot, but your kids didn't.

We can talk all we want about being a great dad, doing fun family things, training our children to love God, but if we don't do the things we say, we're just blowing smoke. Truth is, wanting don't get nothing done.

This summer is going to be different. We're gonna have a plan. We're going to make a list of activities we'd like to do in the next three months, post it somewhere to serve as a reminder, and then check them off one by one. Ha! No more Mr. Dream–dasher here.

So, Dad, what do you want to do this summer? Remember, it's for them, not you. Don't write down: play more golf … instead, write down: take the kids to play a round of golf … or go putt–putting as a family. Maybe you have a project the kids have been begging you to do, like build a tree house or put up a basketball goal. I know what is at the top of my kids' list: a potato cannon.

Ben (10) got a book* that has detailed instructions on building a PVC potato cannon capable of projecting a spud the length of a football field. A great dad, who actually built one, said it shoots out a three–foot flame at night. What boy wouldn't love that?

The only problem is it will take some serious time to build it … but I've been promising to build it for two years, and this summer we're going to build it!! 'Cause I have a plan.

So, go get your wife's ideas too, jot them all down, and do it!!

You know why? Because …

You 'da dad!

[Todd]

©Copyright Todd Wilson, 2004. Used by permission.

* William Gurstelle, Backyard Ballistics, Chicago Review Press, 2001.

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