values

2 Comments June 11, 2013 drworobec

Dear Chris,

For the past four-and-a-half years, I’ve seen you grow and learn and thrive as a father. I’ve seen our children grow and learn and thrive with you as their father.

Last Father’s Day, our baby daughter was only three months old, and I found myself reflecting on the father/daughter relationship that I have with my dad. This year, with 15 months of being a father-of-two under your belt, I’ve noticed some amazing things about your relationship with our children from my vantage point:

-You are their hero. They watch everything that you do, learn from everything that you do, and want to do everything that you do. You are, and will continue to be, a big player in their self-esteem. You’re teaching them to be confident, self-assured, and proud.

-Little girls are just as capable as little boys, and little boys are just as capable as little girls. You are teaching our daughter to have strength, and our son to have sensitivity. You are ignoring gender roles and raising our kids as people. You’re teaching them equality.

-They’re watching how you treat me. They’re watching how you never leave or enter our house without kisses and hugs. You’re teaching them how to be a great partner. You’re teaching them about the important treasure that is family.

-The kindness you show to other people rubs off on them. They see you help others and give generously. You’re teaching them compassion and respect, manners and appreciation.

-Your humour is a staple in our lives; how quiet our house would be without laughter! They expect tickles with your hugs and whiskers with your kisses. You’re teaching them to smile, to find joy, and to feel happiness.

-The father/daughter relationship and father/son relationship are both unique. One is not better or worse, more or less, stronger or weaker than the other. But they are different. You are providing both of them with what they need. You’re teaching them to love and to be loved.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! We love you!

4 Comments October 30, 2012 drworobec

Humility. hu-mil-i-ty. (hyoo-mil-i-tee). Noun. The quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc.

When I think of the values I want to instill in my children, humility ranks near the top of the list.

There are two people in my life who come to mind when I think of humility, or in their case, a lack thereof. Both of these people talk more than listen, brag more than compliment, and gloat more than praise. Their arrogance and showmanship is distasteful, off-putting, and often times insulting. But as I thought about it, I realized they’re patting themselves on the back because they’re worried no one else will. Insecurity and lack of humility go hand in hand. If a person is not secure with themselves, they have to broadcast their accomplishments for all to hear, in the hopes that they’ll feel better about themselves.

This is where my parenting mission starts. To instill humility, I must instill confidence. To instill humility, I must instill pride. To instill humility, I must instill self esteem.

“Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being.

Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric?

Think first about the foundations of humility.

The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”

~Saint Augustine

So let’s go build foundations for our kids. Deep ones. So that they may be accomplished and humble.