2.) Share a lesson you learned from your Father that still sticks with you to this day.
One thing I really credit my Dad for is the impact he was able to have on my life in just seven years. I clung to the lessons he taught me after he died because they were all I had.
From 7th until maybe 10th grade I was in a bit of a dark place. My Mom was keeping a close eye on me, my grades were dropping, I was unhappy, and she was afraid I was going to get mixed up with the wrong crowd and start doing drugs.
One time, much later, she asked why I had always stayed clean and away from drugs even though I was in that dark place and I was all, “because Dad hated them…he told me to say no to drugs.” And since I had so little from him I was not about to disappoint him in one of his only requests of me ever in LIFE.
Upon hearing this my Mom threw her hands in the air, looked up to the sky and yelled, “THAAANK YOUUUUU!”
So I learned not to do drugs.
I learned to be nice to everyone…even though they might look different.
I learned to run the other way if a car is following me.
I learned that making people laugh is the best way.
I learned that there are bugs crawling through holes in your head and that’s what makes you itch.
And I learned how to say I’m sorry when I’m sorry is due:
I sure hope my kids walk away with some of the same valuable lessons from their parents as I did from mine!
The Prompts:
1.) Father’s Day is coming! Share something you’ve learned from your husband about parenting. What makes him good at what he does?
2.) Share a lesson you learned from your Father that still sticks with you to this day.
3.) Write a poem about the summertime blues.
4.) List the top 7 things you need for the perfect barbecue.
5.) Share something mean someone said to you once, why has it stuck with you after all these years?
Jessica says
It sounds like your dad was a pretty well rounded guy. Lots of wonderful things that he gave you to carry around with you in life :D Stopping in ffor another great week! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
-Jessica
Angel says
I think it is awesome that even after he was gone you still wanted to make your dad proud.
Holly Lefevre says
Thanks for hosting! I love what you learned from your Dad…what a smart man!
Rachel J. says
I love that story. Apologizing is such a hard thing to do, and teaching humility in that way is such wonderful parenting. Thanks for these prompts. I just recently discovered you and adore your blog!
Frelle says
I appreciate very much the look into who you were after he passed away. Thank you for sharing a bit of your story and a glimpse at the darkness that followed.. and the innocence and sweetness of who you were as a girl. I love how your mom said thank you to him, too. What a great post!
SouthMainMuse says
Okay — your story gave me a lump in my throat. It really touched me. And he called you, “Kathy” — not MamaKat. Oh, I guess that came much later.
Angie @ The Little Mumma says
I think it’s absolutely beautiful that in those unfairly short years spent with your dad that you absorbed such lifelong lessons. He was obviously a great man. And you clearly adored him.
I don’t want to mess with your memories but I’m not sure your dad was right about the bugs thing….
hollow tree ventures says
The story you told in your video was really sweet. And by telling it, you’ve helped me, too – I always try to apologize to my kids when I overreact or otherwise screw up, but part of me wondered if I was undermining my own authority or that it would somehow reduce the impact, that they’d take away that the lesson wasn’t important rather than the fact that the way I’d taught it was less than perfect. Thank you for showing me that, from the grown child’s perspective, apologizing can be its own lesson.
Bridget @ Le. Rheims says
I grew up with three deceased siblings. They died in a house fire when I was a year old. There was always a hole in my heart and in my family, but we were able to get past it, simply by not forgetting them. I learned so many things about these three that, even though I’m sure I have no actual memories of them, I know them nonetheless. It’s so wonderful that you were able to keep those memories of your dad and let them influence you the way he would have wanted them to. Great post, Kat!
Sorta Southern Single Mom says
Great post, Kat. Sometimes its those little lessons that add up and mean the most.
Ilene says
My daughter recently told me that she will never do drugs because she made a promise to her second grade teacher that she wouldn’t. I pray in she keeps that promise. I know that I have honored promises that I made to people in the past because the person made an impact on me. I am so glad you honored that promise to your father. Thank you for sharing what else he taught you. Great lessons for all of us.
Arnebya @whatnowandwhy says
I’ve beaten myself up over the years for not apologizing immdiately to my kids. Sometimes it’s just not an immediate reflex like yelling/flying off the handle is. I do tend to apologize later when I know I was over the top. Isn’t it amazing that you held on to the drug thing? People don’t realize their impact. My dad taught me about alcohol — TO LOVE IT! Not his best lesson, and I did start drinking beer way too early, but he also taught me that people can change. My father wasn’t around much when I was my oldest daughter’s age (11). Yet, their relationship is special. I find myself grateful for it rather than jealous (which is how I thought I should feel since he missed those years with me).
Scargosun says
This made me tear up! I could not watch the vids b/c I am at work but the words went straight to my heart. I had more time with my Dad than you but there after reading your post and knowing what mine is about – there really is never enough time.
Gingerj says
Didn;t see ANYTHING eh??? LOL!
What a great lesson, lessons for your dad to have taught you in such a short time…I hope this Father’s Day is filled with really warm, cherished memories!
:)
Jennifer says
That’s a pretty good lesson to learn at such a young age. Most adults don’t know how to do that.
David HATES it if Cady tries to come in the room when he is dressing. It completely freaks him out.
Delilah says
I walked in on my dad once too when I was a little kid. Unfortunately I definitely DID get an eyeful. Haha! I was just slightly traumatized as an 8 year old growing up in an extremely modest family. My dad just laughed. I think he recognized that my embarrassment was more than enough punishment. I don’t think I looked him in the eye for a month. And I never ever entered a room without knocking again. Lesson learned. I think it’s so sweet that your dad apologized to you for overreacting.
carol says
It’s amazing how losing a father makes us want to cling to every little thing he said, all the counsel he gave, all the affection he gave! Dad’s are every girl’s hero. All we can be is just thankful for the time we had with our dad’s, no matter the length of time. This is my second round of writing. My sister has been participating for quite a while and I’ve always enjoyed reading her’s. So I thought I would jump in…. I love it! The prompts jog my memory in such good ways and I’m hoping to write a little better in the process. Thanks!
Carpool Goddess says
Love this! I lost my dad when I was a teenager and not a day goes by that I don’t think of him in some way. I will be posting mine later. Thanks :)
Emily @ My Pajama Days says
He was obviously an amazing man to have made such an impression on you – I do believe you have taught, and will teach, many valuable lessons to your children. Sometimes I’m surprised at how much my children really do pay attention to – good or bad. Hopefully, our actions match our words.
Jen says
I love that story about your dad and how it taught you to be humble. That is good stuff.
Jen {at} take2mommy says
I love that you held on so tightly to those lessons your dad taught you at such a young age. The “saying sorry” lesson is a hard one…at least it’s been hard for me to teach to my kids. They’d rather go to their room for fighting than have to say sorry to each other!
Jerralea says
It’s great to know that the things we model to our children are always there, even if they had only a short time with us! I think its great that you didn’t want to disappoint your dad, even when in a “dark place.”
kaye says
you had a great dad :) kaye—the road goes ever ever on
Jenn says
Aw, lovely post, and what a great lesson he taught you (in a very uncomfortable way.)
As for the bugs? *itch itch*
Oh, that’s so typical of a dad, isn’t it!
Kisatrtle says
Okay here’s how my ADD works. Oh I wanna play with Mama Kat today. Cool I will write about my dad. Cool. I will post some advice. Make sure you link it back to her. Okay. Now post it to Facebook. Okay. Send it to your dad. Oh great now it’s 10 hours later and y ou never linked up. Ugh. Anyway, I loved the things you learned from your dad…
Susan in the Boonies says
Kat: this post made me cry. I hate that you didn’t have your Daddy, but I love that you clung to the things that he’d said to you.
I didn’t write on one of your prompts this week, and you already know I thought they were GREAT topics. I was having a hard time deciding which one I wanted to choose! But I didn’t because this week was kind of filled with sponsor-ish posts that I wanted to crank out.
I did my best with the topics I had, but I’d love to have the luxury of not working in hopes of making money, you know? I always feel a little weird about that. Although I don’t know why I should. My husband writes music for a living, and we don’t feel bad about taking his paychecks for writing music for products that weren’t written because that dog chow made him want to break into song.
I’m rambling. Hope you’re feeling better.
Tracy P. says
Aw, just came and watched the video! I love it. And somewhere recently you asked “Are you a cat person? Dog person? Kid person?” I thought, “kid person” at the time. But I was just thinking about that a little while ago and realized I’m a dog person. The underdog. Enjoy your kids this summer.