WHO NEEDS A DAD ANYWAY?

WHO NEEDS A DAD ANYWAY?

WHO NEEDS A DAD ANYWAY?

I have watched our society continually view men as throw-away dads.  Have we reached a point in our evolution that men are nothing more than sperm donors for women?

It saddens me that the role and importance of a Dad in a child's life has become no more meaningful than material things that come and go.  Children need their fathers.  Boys learn to be men from their fathers.  Girls learn how to relate to men and how men should treat them from their fathers.

A loving and involved father is one of the greatest gifts a child can have.  The lessons a father teaches are through example, words and deeds. He is there to protect and console in a different way than a mom.  The presence of a father in the home has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a boy joining a gang in his teens or a girl becoming promiscuous.

If you want to know how children crave the attention of a father figure, do this exercise.  Go to your child's (grandchild's or nephew's) school and have lunch.  If you are a mom, join your husband in the exercise. You will experience the emptiness that some children have in their lives.  They will beg you to sit by them, hug them, hold them and talk to them.  The children in your own life will be proud to have you with them at lunch. However, you will see the difference in their reaction to you and that of children where no father is present in the home.

Who needs a Dad?  Every child.  Just ask them.

copyrighted 2000

caryn cannatella

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THE MAKING OF A MEMORY

THE MAKING OF A MEMORY

Here is a story from my overnight trip with my best friend, Marisela.

We stopped at a local restaurant in Navasota, TX to eat. Marisela had eaten there before and said the food was great. It wasn't fancy. The chairs were hand made. The floors were painted and chipped. There were two pictures painted on opposing walls that I would call true folk art. It was owned and run by a local family. There were about 5 people working there.

We hadn't eaten since last night so of course we ordered way too much food. One of our appetizers was jalapeno poppers. After about 45 minutes one of the guys came out and told us there was a mistake on the menu. They werent jalapeno poppers; they were jalapeno hush puppies. We said that was ok since I had ordered catfish. Then we giggled and said, "it's gonna be awhile before we eat." About 10 minutes later, the same guy comes out and says, "we aren't gonna charge you but we know you have waited a long time so here are the jalapeno hush puppies. We hope you like them."

There are 5 or 6 round crusty things on the plate with a sauce. Marisela says, "I don't think those are hush puppies." Or maybe I said it. What were these? We took a bite of them and they were deep fried slices of zucchini! We started laughing again. BUT! They were homemade and delicious.

At this point Marisela starts laughing and says "Oh, I remember something about this place. It took forever to get the food." What? You forgot that? lolol

Now, I have to tell you. We werent the only people in the restaurant waiting for food. I think there were at least 5 other people/parties. After we finished the zucchini, they bring out the other appetizer we had ordered. Well, if looks could have killed, we would have been roadkill!

hahaha That made us laugh again. People were glaring at us. I swear one old cowboy in sneakers actually changed his seat so he could sit and stare at us. I could just imagine this scene: "Yes Officer, I beat them both with those twisted french fries and I'd do it again!"

After about an hour we received our lunch. Catfish and Chicken tenders. And Onion Rings. Now let me tell you! Nothing and I mean nothing we ate was frozen.

Everything they served us was peeled, dipped, coated and deep fried back in the kitchen. I wish you could have all tasted it. In fact, we brought most of the main course home with us. We will be lucky if we get to eat any of it after our kids find the food.

Yes we were there over an hour longer than we planned to be but we weren't on a time clock. We were enjoying the local color of Navasota. It was a great time and a great meal that was cooked with love.

Like Henson Cargill sang over 40 years ago, sometimes you gotta stop and smell the roses. And if you happen to prick your finger with a sticker, find the humor in it and make a memory.

copyright 2014

caryn cannatella 

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann.com

FAMILY TRADITIONS

FAMILY TRADITIONS

I give my parents a lot of credit for the traditions I was taught growing up.  Some of them have become part of the traditions my children and I have incorporated in our family.

My most favorite Christmas tradition is going out on Christmas Eve and looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights.  I have done this every year since I was 4 ½.  My mother was big and pregnant with my younger sister that year.  In fact, she arrived just 2 days after Christmas.  Mama was just miserable so my daddy piled us all in the car and we took off looking at the lights and decorations.  I was in awe!  There was one house that had every song and theme represented on their yard.  The house and lawn were covered in lights but the most lights were on the roof!  It just thrilled me to see all those lights on one house!

My children are in their 20’s and still look forward to going out on Christmas Eve and looking at the beautiful yards and houses all lit up for Santa’s arrival!  We have found our own house that just drips with all the stories of Christmas plus lights everywhere in the yard, on the house and on the roof. 

That one tradition has carried over to other parts of Christmas.  Every year my kids get a new stocking.  And every year that stocking is filled with goodies and presents.  No looking in the stocking until all the presents are opened!  Every year we buy all new lights and ornaments.  Now, we do have our special ornaments that we have collected through the years, but each year, we use different colors.  Even for the outside!  And most every year my daughter convinces me to buy a real tree. 

Along with that, we have certain things we cook and bake at Christmas.  We normally have lasagna or Ham for Christmas dinner.  I know lasagna sounds weird for Christmas but their dad was Sicilian.  What can I say?  We make strawberry candy out of jello mix.  We make cookies out of Ritz crackers and peanut butter.  We make a batch of Texas trash.  And usually we throw in a new recipe just for fun.  And of course, you have to have that Christmas music going everywhere.  I admit when they start playing it the day after Thanksgiving on the radio, I am pretty tired of it by Christmas but those first 3 weeks or so are just heaven!

Now, it’s only October so I haven’t started planning everything for Christmas yet.  But Thanksgiving?  Yep, I’ve already started collecting my food items in anticipation! 

We have our family traditions for all the major holidays.  And don’t forget about Halloween!  We still decorate the house for the little ones.  Ok, it’s for us too!  Lol

I think family traditions are so important.  It’s the glue that holds the family together for those special times of the year.  You know you are part of a family when you have traditions that are special just to your members.  If you don’t have any family traditions, start one this Christmas.  Your kids will thank you for it. 

copyrighted 2014

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann.com