Several weeks back I got a Facebook message from a childhood friend. It was unexpectedly about my dad. This friend mentioned how our father had impacted him in a positive way.
A seemingly simple thing our dad (Herm) had done helped my friend out. Herm taught him how to throw a baseball. Such a simple thing. Yet it stood out 50 years later as something that meant a lot to this next-door neighbor who grew up with us on our dead-end street.
As a kid, you don’t think about what your father is “like.” He’s just there. Ours built the first home we lived in from the ground up with his father and his father-in-law, our mom, and some other relatives and friends. He worked hard at his job. He was there for us three boys, wrestling with us, showing us how to use tools and work in the yard, along with basic sports skills like how to kick a football (such an important life skill; 😊).
At the time, he was just our dad, someone who we listened to, had fun with, and respected for the lessons he delivered. But you didn’t think about him teaching you to throw a baseball or football.
The friend who posted to Facebook is not the only person from my childhood who has made points about Herm. Two other friends who I’ve caught back up with as life moved along have said during conversations with me how they remembered our dad helping them out in terms of learning sports skills, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, how that made them feel more prepared and confident in what they did.
You don’t think about those things as a kid. Instead, you look back as an adult and realize the effect someone had on your life, how you’ve been molded. Hopefully in a good and positive way.
“Teaching the fundamentals” is a simple notion. Figure out the basics. Do them well. Repeat. Build from there. If you have the foundation, the rest of the home is on a strong footing.
Herm built the foundation not only for us three brothers, but also for other kids who lived on our street and friends who came to visit us who lived farther away. Because he was there and available and gave of his time to us, we learned skills that stayed with us long after those joyous childhood backyard football and baseball games.
Because the friends raised these points to me about Herm, it’s gotten me thinking about the impacts we have on others throughout our lives and the importance in lending a hand, sharing something we know to help the next generation with their personal growth and ability to deal with a rapidly changing landscape.
The little things matter. Being there matters. Teaching a youngster a valuable skill matters.
When you learn the basics – how to properly hold and throw a baseball or football – you grab a foothold in your small world of childhood and are better able to participate and succeed in the games you play. Sharing that knowledge freely and selflessly pays back many times over.
I need only look back 50 years to hear from three friends who our dad impacted. And to this day they remember.
A seemingly simple thing our dad (Herm) had done helped my friend out. Herm taught him how to throw a baseball. Such a simple thing. Yet it stood out 50 years later as something that meant a lot to this next-door neighbor who grew up with us on our dead-end street.
As a kid, you don’t think about what your father is “like.” He’s just there. Ours built the first home we lived in from the ground up with his father and his father-in-law, our mom, and some other relatives and friends. He worked hard at his job. He was there for us three boys, wrestling with us, showing us how to use tools and work in the yard, along with basic sports skills like how to kick a football (such an important life skill; 😊).
At the time, he was just our dad, someone who we listened to, had fun with, and respected for the lessons he delivered. But you didn’t think about him teaching you to throw a baseball or football.
The friend who posted to Facebook is not the only person from my childhood who has made points about Herm. Two other friends who I’ve caught back up with as life moved along have said during conversations with me how they remembered our dad helping them out in terms of learning sports skills, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, how that made them feel more prepared and confident in what they did.
You don’t think about those things as a kid. Instead, you look back as an adult and realize the effect someone had on your life, how you’ve been molded. Hopefully in a good and positive way.
“Teaching the fundamentals” is a simple notion. Figure out the basics. Do them well. Repeat. Build from there. If you have the foundation, the rest of the home is on a strong footing.
Herm built the foundation not only for us three brothers, but also for other kids who lived on our street and friends who came to visit us who lived farther away. Because he was there and available and gave of his time to us, we learned skills that stayed with us long after those joyous childhood backyard football and baseball games.
Because the friends raised these points to me about Herm, it’s gotten me thinking about the impacts we have on others throughout our lives and the importance in lending a hand, sharing something we know to help the next generation with their personal growth and ability to deal with a rapidly changing landscape.
The little things matter. Being there matters. Teaching a youngster a valuable skill matters.
When you learn the basics – how to properly hold and throw a baseball or football – you grab a foothold in your small world of childhood and are better able to participate and succeed in the games you play. Sharing that knowledge freely and selflessly pays back many times over.
I need only look back 50 years to hear from three friends who our dad impacted. And to this day they remember.